BALANCE AND HEARING INSTITUTE

MidState's comprehensive, state-of-the-art Balance and Hearing Institute treats patients in Central Connecticut who suffer from dizziness, vertigo, a history of falls, or other related symptoms associated with car accidents and other injuries.

The specially trained staff at the Balance and Hearing Institute can diagnose most cases in about an hour, with a series of thorough, quick, and painless tests. The tests involve inspection of the patient's inner ear, in addition to vision and movement assessments. Testing is interpreted by a licensed audiologist and read by a MidState neurologist or ear, nose and throat specialist.

If you have balance problems, appropriate treatment can improve your quality of life and get you back on your feet. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 1 800 632 6807. The Balance and Hearing Institute is located in Suite 212 at MidState Medical Center. Testing and treatment are covered by most insurance plans.

Maintaining Your Balance

The ability to maintain your balance involves three systems that must work together for proper functioning:

• Vision - Your vision system tells you your position in space.
• Vestibular System - Located in your inner ear, this system helps you maintain equilibrium and allows for coordination of your head and eye movements.
• Somatosensory System - This musculoskeletal system provides information about your position in space, separate from the other two systems.

Your entire balance system is weakened when any one of these areas is injured, damaged, or diseased, making you more susceptible to falling. Several conditions can lead to problems with balance including a head injury, stroke, orthopedic injuries, osteoarthritis, neurological problems, or conditions that result in problems with blood supply to your inner ear.

At some time in their life, more than 50% of American adults suffer from dizziness or balance problems. While an occasional bout of dizziness may not seem like a serious problem, it can lead to feelings of discomfort and uneasiness, or an unexpected fall. In fact, falls are the number one cause of accidental deaths and hospital admissions for people over age 65.

Do You Have a Balance Problem?

Here are some common indications of a potential balance problem:

• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Difficulty getting up from a chair or out of bed
• Numbness or loss of sensation in the legs
• Difficulty walking up or down inclines
• Loss of balance when standing still
• Problems judging distances when walking
• Blurred or double vision
• Increased sensitivity to light
• More than one fall in the last year

If you think you might have problems with your balance, take The Balance Screening Test and then talk with your doctor.

Treatment Options

Based on the results of your diagnostic tests, the Balance and Hearing Institute team will develop a personalized treatment plan. Plans often include a combination of physical and medical therapies. Some patients may even benefit from vestibular rehabilitation therapy, a specific type of physical therapy designed for those with balance problems.