How Does Vestibular Dysfunction Affect the Body?

The human vestibular system includes the parts of the brain and the inner ear that deal with processing and understanding the sensory information that people need to control their eye movements and balance.

Vestibular dysfunction can occur in those individuals who have any type of damage to or condition affecting the nervous system. This can occur because of external and environmental issues, genetic conditions, and other reasons that doctors are unable to pin down. When suffering from vestibular dysfunction, the ability to control the body's center mass is diminished. The body can eventually develop weakness in the muscles and even paralysis in some cases.

Many people suffering from vestibular dysfunction experience the following:

• Inability to control their movements or prevent certain movements from occurring
• A limited range of motion
• Inability to maintain their posture
• Impairment of overall motor coordination

Some who have vestibular dysfunction will also have positional vertigo. This means that they feel the room is spinning around them and they have no control over it. This is a very common type of persistent symptom that can cause a major loss in quality of life.

Another symptom some may develop is called oscillopsia. This gives the patient the feeling that objects that are actually stationary are moving back and forth, or oscillating. Because of the disorienting affect, many people with this condition can also suffer from nausea and even vomiting.

Diagnosing Vestibular Dysfunction 

Those who feel that they may be suffering from some type of vestibular dysfunction should make sure that they speak with a neurologist right away so they can get a proper diagnosis. The doctor will want to know the patient's medical history, as well as whether they have suffered from other similar episodes, motion sickness, drug abuse, diabetes, and a host of other diseases.

Expert neurological specialists will also want to know about all of the current medications the patient is taking to determine if any of those medications are mimicking the effects of vestibular dysfunction. For example, medication that can cause a sedative effect can make balance difficult.

The doctors will then move on to assess the following during a physical exam to check the patient's musculoskeletal structure:

• Strength
• Range of motion
• Vision
• Reflexes
• Reflex cancellation