Balance
What is Vertigo?
The inner ear is important for good balance as well as hearing. The inner ear provides information to your eyes and muscles, so that you feel the world is staying still when you move around. When it goes wrong, you feel that things are moving (often spinning or bobbing up and down). This feeling is called vertigo. There are a number of different ear conditions that can cause vertigo.
Who is this Service for?
The Balance Service is for anyone who may have an inner ear (vestibular) problem.
Can anyone use this service?
Adults can be referred by their GP, ENT specialist or Audiologist. Children can be seen at the request of an ENT consultant.
What to Expect
When you are referred to us, your name will be added to our waiting list. We will not contact you until you reach the top of the list. You will then receive a questionnaire to complete before your appointment.
Your first appointment will be to discuss your symptoms and do some tests to find out more about your inner ear reflexes. For some people, we will complete our assessment on the day, for other people we will suggest further tests or an appointment with an ENT specialist.
If you have symptoms that are affecting you day to day, then we will talk about balance rehabilitation exercises.
More information about vestibular conditions and tests can be seen here:
Diagnosis & Treatment - https://vestibular.org/article/diagnosis-treatment/
Information and support for vestibular or inner ear symptoms - https://www.menieres.org.uk/information-and-support
IMPROVING YOUR BALANCE AT HOME
If you and your Audiologist agree that balance exercises would be helpful, your Audiologist will show you what to do. There are also some good resources online that are free to use.
An online exercise programme for better inner ear balance, from Southampton University:
https://balance.lifeguidehealth.org/player/play/balance
An online guide helping older adults to exercise safely and reduce their risk of falls:
www.morelifehealth.com
Two booklets from Meniere’s Society:
Balance Retraining (menieres.org.uk) - https://www.menieres.org.uk/files/pdfs/balance-retraining-2012.pdf
Controlling Your Symptoms (menieres.org.uk) - https://www.menieres.org.uk/files/pdfs/controlling-your-symptoms.pdf
Contact Details
Royal Glamorgan Hospital
Ynysmaerdy
Llantrisant
Rhondda Cynon Taff
CF72 8XR
Telephone: 01443 443283
Email: CTT_Audiology@wales.nhs.uk
Information Regarding your Balance Assessment CTM
Meniere’s Society: The national charity for people with dizziness