Test Your Balance and Stay Active!

Test your balance Associated Audiologists Overland Park

Falls can become more common with age. That’s why it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing a problem, check your balance and practice exercises to improve your balance and stay active. These 5 five strategies from the Vestibular Disorders Association can help you do just that! Anyone can fall at any age. But the fact is … Read More

Are Falls Inevitable for Older Adults?

Senior man lying on the living room floor with a walking cane in one hand, supporting himself with the other.

Aging doesn’t have to result in a fall, but unfortunately, it often does. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, falls among adults 65 and older caused over 36,000 deaths in 2020, making it the leading cause of injury death for that group. Falls also are responsible for at least 300,000 hip fractures each year and they are … Read More

The Challenge of Diagnosing Vestibular Disorders

Vestibular Dysfunction represented in typography.

Diagnosing a vestibular disorder, or a dizziness and balance problem, can be a difficult and frustrating journey for the patient experiencing the issue. In fact, according to the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA), many people with dizziness, imbalance, or vertigo have trouble obtaining a diagnosis. Difficulties in Getting a Diagnosis: There are many different types of disorders that can cause dizziness. … Read More

Can Diet Impact Dizziness?

Woman holding her temples with her hands, with an exaggerated radial blur effect in the background, suggesting a sense of dizziness or discomfort.

According to the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA), many people with Ménière’s disease (also called primary idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops), secondary endolymphatic hydrops, or migraine-associated dizziness, find that certain changes in their diet can reduce dizziness and help manage other symptoms of dizziness. Why is this? Fluid Balance in The Inner Ear The inner ear is a fluid-filled hearing and balance system … Read More

Reduce Your Risk of Falling

Senior woman holding her head in her hands after a fall, holding a walking cane, with red glasses on the ground next to her.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2019, 34,000 people over age 65 died as a result of falls, and another 3 million ended up in the emergency room. In fact, more than one out of four older adults fall each year, but less than half tell their doctor, and falling once doubles your chances of falling again. … Read More

The Connection Between Dizziness and Aging

How Aging Affects Balance and Dizziness Whether you’re 20 or 80 years old, you can have problems with dizziness and balance. But as you age, a number of health issues and risk factors can put you an increased risk for dizziness and injury from falls. In fact, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Report, in the United States, about one … Read More

Who Treats Dizziness and Balance Disorders?

Danielle Dorner, hearing specialist with Associated Audiologists.

Who to See for Dizziness and Balance Problems Being dizzy or off balance can make it difficult to do everything from bending over to pick something up to getting out of bed in the middle of the night. The result can be dangerous and debilitating for millions of Americans, sometimes resulting in falls and injuries. Unfortunately, getting an accurate diagnosis … Read More

Diagnosing Vestibular Disorders

Woman holding her forehead, with radial blur effects to imply vertigo.

How Vestibular Disorders Are Diagnosed Though dizziness and balance problems are more common in older adults, they can happen to anyone at any age. If you’ve struggled with these issues, you also may have struggled with getting an accurate diagnosis for the problem. And because of that, you may have had trouble finding treatment. So why is getting a diagnosis … Read More

What Goes into Good Balance?

Senior man sitting on the edge of his bed, cupping his head with his left hand.

Understanding the Science of Balance Most of us don’t have a problem with our balance. We roll over in bed, get up in the middle of the night and can easily walk to the bathroom without giving it a second thought. But what if that simple task wasn’t so simple? What if getting out of bed caused you to become … Read More

Studies Show COVID-19 May Affect Hearing and Balance

Woman in a pink shirt and N95 mask standing still on a busy walkway, with blurred, time-lapsed silhouettes of people moving around her.

How COVID-19 May Impact Hearing and Balance As we continue to learn to live with the SARS-COV-2, or the COVID-19 virus, much more is being learned about how the illness affects the human body. Since the early days of the pandemic, it was noted that individuals with the virus often lost their sense of taste and/or smell. But it seems … Read More