Free Publications from VEDA
 

Below are links to free downloadable .pdf publications from the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) that can be printed out for personal or patient use.

In addition, some printed publications are available for purchase in bulk quantities only (25 or more of the same item). Please contact VEDA for further information about bulk orders of patient education materials.

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S-7: The Human Balance System: A Complex Coordination of Central and Peripheral Systems How the balance system uses sensory input from the eyes, muscles and joints, and inner ear to maintain balance and stable vision. By VEDA, with contributions from Mary Ann Watson, MA, and F. Owen Black, MD.

S-9: Causes of Dizziness Vertigo, dizziness, and disequilibrium are defined; common causes are explained. By VEDA.
 

M-2: Vestibular Disorders: An Overview Describes the function of the vestibular system and symptoms and causes of damage to it; defines specific types of vestibular disorders; and reviews common diagnostic tests and treatments. By VEDA.

F-26: Vestibular Injury: Compensation, Decompensation, and Failure to Compensate An explanation of how the balance system recovers from injury through the compensation process; acute (immediate) and chronic (long-term) compensation; causes of decompensation and failure to compensate; use of medication and vestibular rehabilitation therapy. By Thomas E. Boismier, MPH, and VEDA.

F-31: Vision Challenges with Vestibular Disorders Explains the link between the vestibular system and vision, describing the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in detail with information on evaluation, treatment, and coping strategies. Details the special considerations required for vision correction, including glasses and contact lenses. By VEDA.

C-1: Visual Preference and Vestibular Deficiency A "Clinical Observations" column of VEDA's member newsletter, "On the Level." Discusses visual preference developed resulting from vestibular dysfunction, and provides suggestions for treating it. By Jeffrey Kramer, MD, and VEDA.

F-12: Tinnitus—Ringing in the Ears: An Overview from VEDA Questions and answers about tinnitus, including terminology, causes and related factors, diagnosis and treatment options, and tips for prevention and reducing its severity. By VEDA.

C-2: Cochlear Hyperacusis and Vestibular Hyperacusis Explains sound sensitivity, discusses symptoms that can include pain, dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and others; causes; testing; and treatment options. By Marsha Johnson, MS, CCC-A, and VEDA.

C-3: Observations on Cognitive and Psychological Aspects of Vestibular Disorders Includes comments from a social worker, an otolaryngologist, and a neuropsychologist during interviews by VEDA on how vestibular disorders affect cognitive and psychological or emotional functioning. Interviewees: Carolyn Bennett, ACSW; Alexander Schleuning II, MD; and Mark Tilson, PhD.

How Do I Know If I Have a Balance Disorder? Describes the difference between dizziness, vertigo, and disequilibrium. Suggests questions a person might ask to help him or her decide whether to seek medical help for a balance problem or dizzy spell. Adapted by VEDA from information produced by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

Vestibular Disease in Dogs and Cats Explains the signs of vestibular dysfunction in pets. Includes causes, prognosis, and treatments, including what owners can do to help their pets. Also includes a picture and link to one beloved dog's story. By VEDA.

VEDA Members Ask About Research Addresses questions about why research takes so long, describes the scientific method, provides information about helping research by becoming a research subject. By VEDA.

 

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

F-6: Diagnostic Tests for Vestibular Problems Descriptions and explanations of the purpose of various tests, including ENG (electro- videonystagmography), rotation tests, computerized dynamic posturography (CDP), audiometry, and scans (MRI, CT). By VEDA.

F-16: Trouble Getting a Diagnosis? A list of reasons why many people with dizziness, imbalance, or vertigo have trouble obtaining a diagnosis, along with suggestions for speeding up the diagnostic process. By VEDA.

F-7: Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy—An Effective, Evidence-Based Treatment Describes the specialized form of exercise-based physical therapy designed to alleviate both primary and secondary symptoms of vestibular disorders. Includes descriptions of assessments of vision and eye movements, balance and gait, vertigo, and the musculoskeletal system; vestibular habituation, and balance retraining exercises.
 

T-6: Surgery for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders Descriptions of surgical procedures used to repair or stabilize vestibular organs damaged by disease or injury. Procedures discussed include vestibular neurectomy, labyrinthectomy, transtympanic or intratympanic gentamicin treatment, endolymphatic sac decompression, oval or round window plugging, canal partitioning, PE tubes, and stapedectomy. By VEDA.

Flow chart illustrating balance as a complex system of sensory input, sensory integration, and motor output.

 

R-5: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) Discusses the cause of dizziness and vertigo symptoms resulting from positional changes, symptoms, causes, assessment, and treatment. By Timothy C. Hain, MD, and VEDA.

F-9: Vestibular Neuritis and Labyrinthitis: Infections of the Inner Ear Viral versus bacterial infections of the inner ear; onset and symptoms; testing; treatment during the acute and chronic phases, including medication and vestibular rehabilitation exercises. By Charlotte L. Shupert, PhD, with contributions from Bridget Kulick, PT, and VEDA.

F-4: Meniere's Disease Describes the recurring set of symptoms resulting from abnormally large amounts of a fluid called endolymph collecting in the inner ear. Discussion includes symptoms, stages, diagnosis, treatment, and coping. By P. J. Haybach, MS, RN, and VEDA.

R-3: Balance and Aging Good balance requires reliable sensory input from the individual’s vision, vestibular system and proprioceptors. With age, a variety of diseases can affect these systems. Discusses how a tendency to fall and have symptoms of dizziness should not be dismissed as unavoidable consequences of aging but may be important signs of a disease that might be cured or controlled. By Charlotte Shupert, PhD, Fay Horak, PhD, PT, and VEDA.

F-2: Secondary Endolymphatic Hydrops Describes symptoms of secondary endolymphatic hydrops, treatment with a diet regimen, and other quality of life issues. By Susan Pesznecker, RN, and VEDA.

E-9: Migraine-Related Dizziness: An Updated Understanding Migraine is now understood to be a vascular and neural process that can occur with or without pain. Migraine and vestibular dysfunction are discussed, including the recognition of migraine syndromes, evaluation and testing, vestibular test results commonly observed in migraine-related dizziness patients, treatment, and migraine triggers. By Jeffrey Kramer, MD, Jim Buskirk, PT, SCS, and VEDA.

E-11: Superior Canal Dehiscence: A Cause of Hearing and Balance Problems Describes the vestibular and auditory symptoms and signs that can result from an opening (dehiscence) in the bone overlying the superior semicircular canal. Also discusses causes and diagnosis and treatment options. By Lloyd B. Minor, MD, John P. Carey, MD, and VEDA.

F-28: Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome (EVAS) Discusses the causes and prevalence of enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome (EVAS) and the hearing and vestibular symptoms associated with it, including information about clinical evaluation and treatment considerations. By Mohamed Hamid, MD, PhD, EE, and VEDA.
 

COPING and SUPPORT

C-4: Coping with a Vestibular Disorder Includes two articles: Coping with a Chronic Vestibular Disorder and Other Physical Illnesses (Beyond "Learn to Live with It") by Molly-Jane Isaacson Rubinger, MSW, LICSW, and VEDA; and Learning to Cope with Vestibular Disorders, a list of tips offered by support group leaders on adjusting to daily challenges.

C-5: “It’s All in Your Head”: Addressing Vestibular Patients’ Stressors and Self Doubts Identifies the issues associated with the subtle erosion of self-esteem often experienced by vestibular patients. By Albert J. Bernstein, PhD, and VEDA.

M-9: What Makes a Support Group Interesting? Summarizes the results of VEDA's survey of support group leaders. Includes information about why people participate, successful meeting formats, how to start and lead a group, and more. By VEDA.
 

DAILY LIVING

S-17: Dietary Considerations with Endolymphatic Hydrops, Ménière’s Disease, and Vestibular Migraine Dietary strategies for regulating inner-ear fluid balances; tips for reducing salt and sugar intake; examples of dietary migraine triggers. Now includes a tip sheet for dining out. By VEDA.

E-12: Improving Balance with Tai Chi Explains the basic principles and balance benefits of Tai Chi, including direct clinical observation of its efficacy as a complementary vestibular therapy and consumer tips on selecting and preparing for a Tai Chi course. By VEDA, with contributions by Gaye Cronin, OTD, OT.

C-7: Using the Wii for Vestibular Rehabilitation This very brief article describes the emerging use of the Nintendo Wii and WiiFit video game console for vestibular therapy, including details on specific games used and resulting improvements to patient balance. By Margaret Fitzpatrick, PT, DPT, OCS, Lynne Harding, PT, and VEDA.

F-11: Travel and Vestibular Disorders Includes an explanation of specific problems that people with a vestibular disorder might experience during travel (middle ear problems due to rapid pressure/elevation changes, problems adjusting to certain motion patterns, and sensitivity to visual and sound disturbances). Offers helpful strategies to consider in planning a trip, and precautions to take while traveling. By VEDA.

F-30: Computer Monitors and Digital Televisions Visual sensitivity from vestibular disorders can be exaggerated when a person uses a computer monitor or watches television. This problem is discussed in a review of features association with three common display technologies: cathode-ray tub (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), and plasma. 3-D television and film viewing is also discussed. Guidelines for choosing a computer monitor or television are presented. By VEDA.

S-1: Fatigue, Stress, and Responsibility Explains the importance of recognizing fatigue, setting priorities, and learning to accept what you can do and what you can't. Includes coping tips and strategies. By VEDA and Vicki Schmall, PhD.
 

EN ESPANOL

M-2e: Desórdenes vestibulares Síntomas, causas, diagnosis, tratamiento, incapacidad. Por VEDA.

M-3e: Síntomas posibles de los desórdenes vestibulares Visión, audición, náusea, memoria, coordinación, emociones, y otros síntomas. Por VEDA.