A more severe form of bilateral vestibular dysfunction in which there is near-complete or complete loss of function in both inner ears. Individuals typically rely heavily on vision and sensation from the feet for balance. They may experience significant walking instability, difficulty reading signs while in motion, and visual blurring with movement.
Patients with bilateral vestibular loss are diagnosed with VNG testing. They do not get any dizziness or vertigo during calorics testing (hot and cold air or water in the ears) because their vestibular system is unresponsive to the stimulation.
Caution: Patients with this diagnosis should not go swimming underwater in the dark, because they could drown.
Disclaimer
This blog is provided for informational and educational 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.
