Vestibular Hypofunction Treatment in Calgary
Caring, Individualized Vestibular Physiotherapy at Home
What is Vestibular Hypofunction?
Vestibular hypofunction is a condition where one or both inner ears have reduced function, making it harder for your brain to sense balance and head movement. This can cause dizziness, unsteadiness, and difficulty maintaining balance, especially when walking or moving your head.
Common Symptoms of Vestibular Hypofunction
Dizziness or lightheadedness, feeling off balance or unsteady when walking
Blurred or “bouncing” vision with head movement (oscillopsia)
Increased risk of losing balance or falling
Mental fatigue, “brain fog”
What Causes Vestibular Hypofunction?
Common causes include inner ear infections (e.g. vestibular neuritis), head injury or concussion, age-related changes, and certain medications. Sometimes there are no clear causes.
How is it diagnosed?
Diagnosis is made based on thorough interview on symptoms and clinical tests. My role as an experienced clinician is to establish a clear diagnosis based on the symptom pattern and clinical tests, understand how it is affecting your life, and rule out any other underlying conditions.
Treatment for Vestibular Hypofunction
Vestibular hypofunction is treated with vestibular rehabilitation therapy, a form of physiotherapy that helps the brain adapt and improve balance using specific head, eye, and body exercises. The goal is to reduce dizziness, improve stability, and retrain the balance system over time.
In many cases, recovery also includes gradual movement exposure and balance training, which helps reduce symptoms during daily activities like walking, turning, and changing positions.
Recovery time for Vestibular Hypofunction
Recovery time for vestibular hypofunction depends on several factors, such as cause of the hypofunction, intensity and duration of symptoms, and whether one ear or both ears are involved. While mild cases can take weeks, severe chronic cases many take months. Early vestibular physiotherapy can speed up recovery by helping the brain adapt and compensate for reduced inner ear function. I will closely monitor the progress and communicate with your family doctor if any further medical investigation appears necessary.
When to Seek Help
You should seek help if you experience ongoing dizziness, unsteadiness, or balance problems that are affecting your daily life or not improving over time. It’s also important to get assessed if you feel unsteady when walking, have difficulty with head movements, or are at risk of falling.
Early vestibular physiotherapy can help identify the cause and start targeted treatment to improve balance and reduce symptoms more quickly.
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Vestibular hypofunction is not always permanent. In many cases, symptoms improve significantly with time and vestibular physiotherapy, as the brain learns to compensate for reduced inner ear function. However, some people may have lingering balance or dizziness symptoms, especially if both inner ears are affected. With vestibular physiotherapy, improvement on functions can still be expected.
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If vestibular hypofunction is not treated, symptoms like dizziness, imbalance, and unsteadiness may persist or worsen over time. This can increase the risk of falls, limit confidence with movement, and make daily activities like walking, turning, or navigating busy environments more difficult. Vestibular physiotherapy helps the brain adapt and improves balance, which can significantly reduce long-term symptoms and improve safety.
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Vestibular hypofunction itself doesn’t always “return,” but dizziness or balance symptoms can recur if the underlying inner ear system is affected again or if there is a new trigger, such as another infection, head injury, or age-related changes. The good news is that even if symptoms come back, vestibular physiotherapy can help the brain readjust and restore balance more effectively each time.