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People with vestibular disorders often wish for someone who will listen to them: listen with empathy – not judgement, listen with a deep knowledge – not dismissing their concerns, and listen with understanding for the emotional impact vestibular disorders have brought to their lives. The OWL Award recognizes two individuals and one organization for their contribution to the healing power of listening.

The effects of chronic light sensitivity, also known as photophobia, are profound for those who experience it on a daily basis. t can cause pain in the eyes and brain, trigger physical symptoms of an underlying condition and even produce feelings of anxiety and isolation—and sometimes it only takes just a few seconds or minutes of exposure.

The connection between light sensitivity and certain vestibular disorders is no different. A significant number of patients with these conditions must also endure the challenges of being light sensitive. And in their case, light acts as a catalyst for dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, headache and other symptoms that are often associated with these disorders. In this article, we take an in-depth look at the experiences of those with vestibular-related photophobia and offer tips for keeping it in check.

One of the leading health concerns for people over the age of 60 is falling, which is often related to balance problems. Each year millions of adults fall and one in five of those falls leads to serious injury (CDC). One of three adults 65 or older fall, but only 50% tell their doctor. The percent of people falling increases from 40% to 65% to 82% with each decade after age 65 years.