I want to share with you the results of a study that was published by researchers in coordination with the Vestibular Disorders Association.

This study is the analysis of a survey completed by 521 participants that were recruited through a mailing list, social media, and flyers. What is interesting was the number of people who were frustrated by vertigo!

Are You Feeling Frustrated by Vertigo?

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of participants with dizziness while they were navigating the healthcare system.

Hint: It turns out that there is good reason to feel frustrated by vertigo care.

The survey found that more than 40% of participants had sought out care for their dizziness within the first week. Most of the participants had sought out care for their dizziness within one month of onset, whether that was with an emergency room, an urgent-care, or at a primary care office.

However, more than 50% of participants in the survey reported 5 months or longer to receive a diagnosis (something I would not want to wait for if I was frustrated by vertigo). Only 20% of participants thought that their diagnosis was accurate and timely. 17% were told that their dizziness would go away. 18% felt that they were misdiagnosed

I would propose this is because our healthcare system is very compartmentalized. A lot of times providers are looking at a case through the lens of the specialty that they have, instead of looking at the whole patient and considering all of the possible causes of the symptoms.

This led 1 out of 3 participants to report being frustrated by vertigo due to being misdiagnosed or misinformed.

People with dizziness see an average of 3 to 4 different providers for treatment of dizziness.

My goal today is to let you know that you are not alone, if you are feeling lost, frustrated, or confused about what steps to take to resolve dizziness.

That is why I started my specialty practice for people who suffer from dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, or repeated falls.

Disclaimer

This blog is provided for informational purposes only. The content and any comments by Dr. Kim Bell, DPT are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The details of any case mentioned in this post represent a typical patient that Dr. Bell might see and do not describe the circumstances of a specific individual.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share this post with your friends!