Seattle Dizzy Group

2016 Meetings & Activities

December 2016

Support Group Meeting – Sat, Dec 10th – 1-3 pm at Green Lake Library

This meeting we will have a Friends & Family Potluck.

This will be a fun time and a great opportunity to show our appreciation for those who help and care for us as well as a chance for our loved ones to learn more about vestibular disorders and the challenges of living with chronic dizziness and imbalance.  We’ll invite friends and family to share their perspective with us and give them the opportunity to ask questions so that they might better understand what we’re going through and how to offer support to us.  We’ll also plan to discuss ways to survive and make the best of the holidays.

(Note:  There are no kitchen facilities).

Bring your friends and family.  Or, come by yourself.  No guests required.

November 2016

Support Group Meeting – Sat, Nov 12th – 1-3 pm at Green Lake Library

“Winter Strategies & Holiday Tips”

We will plan to discuss strategies for getting through the winter months with a chronic illness and will also share tips for enjoying the holiday season with a vestibular or balance disorder.

This meeting we will have a Guest Speaker, Dr. Judith White of the new Balance Center at Swedish, who will share and discuss with us on the topic of “Vestibular Testing & Assessment”:

Dizziness, Vertigo, Imbalance and unexplained falls can be frustrating for patients to experience and lead to falls. The cause is often readily apparent (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo – BPPV) and can be found on positional testing even without special equipment.

Sometimes the cause is more difficult to determine. Evaluation by a vestibular specialist often includes the use of recording of eye movements using goggles. The inner ear and brain send information to control balance, and keep the eyes on target during head movements. The vestibular system includes the balance portions of the inner ear, central brain and neck connections, and the eye movements and balance reflexes. Examining these eye movements allows the specialist to evaluate the different parts of the vestibular system. Goggle systems allow for recording and examination while patients are briefly in the dark, so that distractions from vision do not interfere with eye movements. Goggle exams are done by many providers, including physical therapists, audiologists and vestibular specialists in neurology, otolaryngology and rehabilitation medicine.

Some disorders, such as acute vestibular weakness or BPPV, can be diagnosed using the goggle exam alone. BPPV can affect any of the three canals in each ear, and examination of the eye movements (nystagmus) during positioning testing can help determine which canals are affected. In turn, maneuvers can be performed using the goggles for guidance to maximize the success of the repositioning.

Sometimes the causes of vertigo, dizziness, imbalance and frequent falls are not evident on simple goggle exam, and more detailed evaluation is necessary to determine if there is an inner ear problem, or if attention would be better turned to other causes. Comprehensive vestibular testing is recommended.

Comprehensive vestibular testing takes about 90 minutes. It begins with detailed evaluation of eye movements while looking at a large screen TV, and most patients describe this like playing a video game. Next, the ability of the vestibular system and brain to keep the eyes on target during movement is tested using a chair that rotates. The new rotating chairs do not need a surround, since recording accuracy has improved with new technology.

Additional vestibular testing is performed as needed. When comparison of function between the left and right ears needs to be tested, warm and cold air or water may be used to stimulate the inner ears. Tests using clicking sounds (vestibular evoked myogenic potential or VEMP) are used to check for thinning of the bone around the inner ear, which can cause sound and pressure related vestibular symptoms.

Many additional vestibular tests are available or being developed to understand the complex interaction of eye movements, the brain, balance, and the inner ear. Our discussion will review these newer tests, and where they may fit in the continuum of diagnosis, treatment and multidisciplinary care of patients with vestibular disorders.

More information about our speaker & the balance center:
http://www.swedish.org/physicians/w/white-judith-a
http://www.swedish.org/locations/balance-center

March 2016

Support Group Meeting – Sat, Mar 12th – 1-3 pm at Green Lake Library

“Decreasing Inflammation”

Heather Flood, a naturopathic doctor at Bastyr Center for Natural Health, will share and discuss with us about natural ways to decrease inflammation in order to improve health and help manage the symptoms of a chronic vestibular or balance disorder.

More information about our speaker: http://www.bastyrcenter.org/providers/heather-flood-nd-ms-lac

February 2016

Support Group Meeting – Sat, Feb 13th – 1-3 pm at Green Lake Library

“Day-to-Day Tips & Essentials”

We will plan to discuss day-to-day tips and essentials for living with chronic dizziness and imbalance.

January 2016

Support Group Meeting – Sat, Jan 9th – 1-3 pm at Green Lake Library

*January meeting CANCELLED due to library room issue*

Upcoming Events:

See Calendar for upcoming Meetings & Activities details.

*Seattle Dizzy Group meetings and activities are open to the public and are not sponsored by The Seattle Public Library.*

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