The Vestibular Disorders Association has announced its first ever Virtual Vestibular Conference. The virtual event is scheduled from September 14-18 2020 and is being held as part of Balance Awareness Week. The event is intended to be a resource for patients living with vestibular disorders and will allow participants to get informed on a variety of topics relevant to their conditions as well as communicate directly with medical experts.

About Vestibular Disorders

A vestibular disorder, or balance disorder, is any medical condition that affects coordination, balance and stability. Patients are generally affected by a loss of balance, a sense of wooziness, nausea, and feelings of floating, spinning, or other movement even when the patient is still. The body achieves balance through the activities of the vestibular system (inner ear), the vision system, and proprioception (the body’s ability to sense its position in a given space), so any impacts to these systems can potentially affect balance and stability. When severe, the symptoms of vestibular disorders can be very debilitating, causing serious disruptions to the patient’s ability to go about their day.

A variety of different topics will be addressed during the event. Some examples include:

• Navigating the US and UK health systems
• The psychological impacts of vestibular disorders
• Vestibular rehabilitation therapy
• Specific types of vestibular disorder, such as persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD)
• Alternative medicine

Like with many other rare diseases and chronic illnesses, finding accurate information and resources can be a huge challenge for patients with vestibular disorders. These disorders are often chronic, causing daily problems that can be very disorienting; this is exacerbated by the difficulty in getting a correct diagnosis; an estimated one third of patients must consult more than one physician before learning what they have.

If you are living with a vestibular disorder, than don’t miss this opportunity to consult with medical experts and hear from other patients.

To learn more about this event, click here.

To learn more about the Vestibular Disorders Association, click here.

To learn more about Balance Awareness Week, click here.