VeDA exists for you and because of you. We are a non-profit organization supported entirely by your gifts. You can help people like you learn to live a life-rebalanced.
Vestibular disorders are misunderstood. You can advance vestibular research by participating in clinical trials and sharing your medical history through VeDA’s Patient Registry.
The friends and family members who care for vestibular patients provide essential support. Without firsthand experience, these individuals are challenged to learn about vestibular disorders in order to lessen the impacts of their loved one’s illness. VeDA seeks to focus attention on this important part of our vestibular community and to support their efforts.
Vestibular Impairment & Military Service While vestibular disorders can affect individuals of any age, background, or profession, military personnel are exposed to unique circumstances that can put them at risk for certain types of inner
A patient registry is a database of health information that helps describe the patient experience. When you participate in VeDA’s patient registry, you share your diagnostic journey. That data is anonymously summarized and analyzed for trends to better inform policy-makers and the medical community so that improvements can be made to the diagnostic and treatment process.
What is the Isabel Symptom Checker? The Isabel Symptom Checker is a highly sophisticated medical knowledge system adapted from the professional Isabel Diagnosis Checklist System. Its job is to take a set of symptoms and
WHAT IS BALANCE? Our sense of balance is a complex interaction between the inner ear, vision, and somatosensory systems (physical cues that tell the brain where the body is in space). Those suffering from vestibular
Track Your Progress Keeping track of your symptoms, activities, what you eat and drink, and the medications you take can help you see trends that may aid your medical provider in determining a diagnosis and
Support groups offer people with vestibular disorders an opportunity to meet face-to-face with others who are experiencing similar challenges, as well as to hear presentations by health professionals on topics of interest. The Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) serves as a hub for, and offers assistance to, support groups around the world. VeDA recently surveyed the leaders of these groups in an effort to identify the characteristics of successful support groups and how VeDA might improve the assistance it provides to them.
Of the 57 surveys that were distributed to group leaders, 27 were completed and mailed back to VeDA. Although the structure of the survey does not support rigorous statistical analysis, the compiled responses are summarized here, providing some observations about the features and leadership strategies of thriving groups (long-running groups and/or those that meet regularly), as opposed to those that struggle to meet regularly and maintain interest levels.
Struggling with the daily symptoms of a vestibular disorder can be disheartening. But there is hope. You can learn coping strategies that reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life. Many people describe this as adapting to their “new normal.” Our tips and tools come from vestibular patients, who have learned the hard way that small changes in your lifestyle can make a big difference in your physical, mental and emotional wellness.
Be Prepared Whether you have just started experiencing symptoms of a vestibular disorder or have already been diagnosed, to get the most out of your visits with your doctor it is helpful to assess and
You never thought it would happen. You thought you would work until retirement or beyond, but then along came your vestibular disorder. Now, focusing on a computer screen is a challenge, someone has to drive you to work, walking is a safety hazard, and your concentration is not what it used to be. All of these symptoms can interfere with your ability to do the material duties of your occupation, and can make an attempt to get through a workday exhausting and frustrating as you struggle to complete tasks that used to be easy for you. You see your doctor and she tells you the time has come for you to stop working due to your disability. Now what? How will you live without your income?