Balance, dizziness and vertigo are some of the most common complaints that people bring to their doctors, yet sometimes the cause can be difficult to diagnose. The Center for Balance, Dizziness and Vertigo at the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute offers Baltimore and surrounding areas several sophisticated diagnostic tools, medications and surgical techniques to help identify and treat dizziness.
Dizziness or balance problems can stem from a number of cardiovascular, neurological and psychiatric disorders, including:
- Acoustic neuroma
- Aging
- Aortic stenosis
- Arrhythmia
- Autoimmune vestibulopathy
- BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)
- Brain stem infarcts
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cerebellar disease
- Cerebellar infarct
- Chiari malformations
- Depression
- Labyrinthine infarct
- Side effects from medication
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's disease
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Primary neurogenic hypotension
- Psychosomatic disorders
- Syphilitic labyrinthitis
- Vestibular migraine
- Vestibular neuritis
Most of these causes are treatable. If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, it's usually a good idea to seek medical attention.
At the Center for Balance, Dizziness and Vertigo, our neurologists work hand in hand with a physical therapist. At the center, advanced technologies and clinical evaluations are offered to help with making a correct diagnosis. Physicians study quick movements of the eyes and check the symmetry of the inner ear. During an advanced ENG video test, patients wear a comfortable video goggle with infrared cameras that provide detailed information about their balance system.
The combination of a complete neurological evaluation, video ENG recordings and selected blood tests often point to a specific diagnosis.
Within one or two weeks, referring physicians receive a complete neurology consultation note, detailed video ENG report and specific recommendations for management of these patients. If interested, video clips of the pertinent ENG findings are available via e-mail. We also make arrangements for rehabilitation, and monitor patients until their symptoms are successfully controlled or resolved.
Treatment options include vestibular exercises, medication adjustments, lifestyle modifications and education. The center has a 95 percent success rate.
The center is lead by Majid Fotuhi, M.D., who received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and his doctorate in neurosciences at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Fotuhi completed his internship, fellowship and residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is the author of The Memory Cure: How to Protect Your Brain Against Memory Loss and Alzheimer's Disease.The Center for Balance, Dizziness and Vertigo is a part of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute, which encompasses Sinai Hospital and Northwest Hospital, each of which has dedicated institute programs. The Center for Balance, Dizziness and Vertigo is located on the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore campus.
For more information about the services available at the Center for Balance, Dizziness and Vertigo or the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute, please call 1-888-747-8899. You can also view our brochures online: Balance, Dizziness, and Vertigo and Majid Fotuhi, M.D., Ph.D.
