Experience in Vestibular Habituation Training in the Therapy of Balance Disorders

Overview

Summary:
The aim of the work was to present the experience in vestibular habituation training with the therapy of balance disorders at our Department of Otorhinolaryngology in the Teaching Hospital Na Bulovce in Prague.

Vestibular habituation training makes use of adaptation, habituation and compensation of vestibular appliance. 132 patients with balance disorders at the age of 19 to 85 years, the means age being 52.3 years have been explored in the period from February 2002 till August 2004. The largest group, 56% of patients, included patients with peripheral type of vestibular disorder, the group of central type of vestibular disorder included 38% of patients and the group of mixed type included 6% of patients. Patients were divided into two groups. The first one included patients only with pharmacotherapy, the second one included patients with the combination of pharmakotherapy and vestibular habituation training. Patients were comprehensively explored to define the progress of disorder. The evaluation of progress was both subjective and objective. The results proved true positive effect of vestibular habituation training to balance disorders, especially to peripheral type of balance disorders.

Key words:
vertigo, vestibular habituation training, pharmacotherapy.