The Methodist Hospital System. Leading Medicine
The Methodist Hospital System. Leading Medicine

Otolaryngology

Balance Disorders

The vestibular system:

  • controls balance
  • controls posture
  • regulates locomotion and other movements
  • provides conscious awareness of orientation in space
  • provides conscious awareness of visual fixation in motion

Balance can be impaired by:

  • disease
  • altered gravity
  • aging
  • exposure to unusual motion

When balance is impaired, normal movement is affected, as well as motivation, concentration, and memory.

An estimated 2 million adults suffer from chronic dizziness or difficulty with balance. It particularly affects people aged 65 or older.

Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)