Vestibular Hypofunction - Patient Information - Older Adult, Rehabilitation & Allied Health Services

Sep 5, 2026

Vestibular hypofunction occurs when balance organs in the inner ear are damaged, either completely or partially, on one side or both sides. When sensory cells fail to send accurate signals to the brain, movement triggers vertigo, visual disturbances, and loss of balance. The leaflet explains key balance functions, likely causes, typical unilateral and bilateral symptoms, and rehabilitation goals. Treatment is tailored and uses progressive vestibular exercises to improve visual stability, mobility, posture, and reduce falls risk.

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Vestibular Hypofunction

What happens in Vestibular Hypofunction?

Common causes of Vestibular Hypofunction

Characteristics of Vestibular Hypofunction

Treatment of Vestibular Hypofunction

Reminders and treatment aims

Vestibular Hypofunction INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS OLDER ADULT, REHABILITATION & ALLIED HEALTH SERVICES (ORA) and consists of delicate membranes filled with fluid. The inner ear consists of five balance organs: ▪ three motion sensors called the semi-circular canals (horizontal, posterior and anterior canals) . These canals are filled with fluid and contain motion sensitive cells ▪ two structures which sense gravity and tilt called the utricle and saccule. All five balance organs help you sense your head and body position and the speed at which your body and head moves. The most important job they need to perform is the Vestibular Ocular Reflex (VOR) . The balance organs adjust your eye movements at a rate of speed that equals the speed of your head movement. This enables you to see things clearly when you are moving your head or your body in any direction. This function is very important in maintaining balance in standing or walking and stabilizing your eyes during head movements. What happens in Vestibular Hypofunction? For some reason your balance organs are damaged. The damage can be complete or partial. It can be on one side or both sides. The sensory cells in the organs are not sending signals correctly to the brain. The brain is confused therefore movement of your head or body results in vertigo, visual disturbance, and loss of balance. Common Causes of Vestibular Hypofunction: Your doctor may have mentioned these terms to you before: ▪ Vestibular neuritis-the nerve connecting to the balance organ is damaged so signals are blocked before they can be transmitted to the brain ▪ Labyrinthitis-the balance organs themselves are damaged ▪ Acoustic neuroma-following surgery to remove the benign tumor ▪ Ramsay Hunt Syndrome-also comes with facial paralysis ▪ Gentamycin Ototoxicity – a specific antibiotic has the ability to kill the sensory cells in inner ear ▪ Meningitis ▪ Trauma or head injuries ▪ Menieres Disease or hydrops-also comes with low pitched tinnitus or “fullness” in the ear Issued 22 October 2014. Review date 2017-CapDoc ID: 1.102103 Characteristics of Vestibular Hypofunction Damage to one side (unilateral vestibular loss) ▪ initial vertigo (spinning sensation), nausea and loss of balance that can persist constantly for up to 3-4 days. Followed by: ▪ dizziness and visual blurring on rapid head movement ▪ feeling off balance ▪ dizziness (feeling light headed, disorientated,“spacey”) that can last for hours. Damage to both sides (bilateral vestibular loss) ▪ because signals are lost from both sides, the brain does not receive signals from both balance organs ▪ no dizziness or vertigo is usually experienced ▪ severe oscillopsia. This is apparent movement of a still environment, induced by head movement ▪ general mild light headedness ▪ severe walking impairment ▪ severe problems with standing balance. Due to the complexity of balance organs a mixture of the above symptoms or signs can be presented. Treatment of Vestibular Hypofunction There are several treatment options. Your therapist will tailor your treatment to suit your specific needs. This may include visual stability exercises, exercises to decrease motion sensitivity, balance exercises and/or functional task retraining. The aim of treatment is to improve your visual stability. It means that your eyes should be able to track your environment while you are moving your head or body. This will reduce vertigo and enhance your overall balance and mobility. The treatments are designed to MOVE and CHALLENGE your brain and your inner ear system. You will have to get dizzy to improve. Most of us, on becoming dizzy, avoid the activity that causes the dizziness. However the problem is that the brain gets used to us moving slowly and forgets what signals to send out to help us keep our balance when we do need to move quickly. The only way to improve this is to teach the brain to pay more attention

FAQs

What causes vestibular hypofunction?

Balance organ damage can be complete or partial and may involve conditions such as vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, acoustic neuroma, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, certain antibiotic ototoxicity, meningitis, trauma, or hydrops/Meniere’s disease.

What symptoms differ between unilateral and bilateral vestibular loss?

Unilateral loss often includes initial vertigo, nausea, and loss of balance, followed by dizziness and visual blurring with rapid head movement. Bilateral loss usually causes severe oscillopsia, mild light headedness, and major walking and standing balance problems, with little or no vertigo.

How does treatment help and what does it include?

Treatment is tailored to improve visual stability so eyes can track the environment during head or body movement, reducing vertigo and enhancing balance and mobility. It uses progressive home and therapist-guided vestibular exercises, gradually moved to match tolerance, and may add functional task retraining.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Sophia Brooks