vestibular disease

vestibular disease A disorder of the vestibular apparatus, which is necessary for the sense of balance. A disease may cause vestibular problems by directly affecting the structure or integrity of the vestibular apparatus in the ear, by interrupting the feedback loop between these structures and the brain, or by affecting the parts of the brain that interpret data from the vestibular apparatus. Conditions known to impair vestibular function include acoustic neuroma, autism, Ménière’s disease, multiple sclerosis, infection in the middle ear (otitis media), medications that are toxic to the ear (ototoxic), seizure disorders, syphilis, and trauma. Diagnosis is made via neurological tests, in which the response to movement requests and questions about spatial positioning are observed. Diagnosis of vestibular disease may be confirmed by imaging inner ear structures or testing brain function. Treatment depends on the cause of the disease.