Homepage Xmedia Digital Solutions newsroom

Australian Audiologist Developed Natural Way to Treat Persistent Vertigo Symptoms

Announcement posted by Xmedia Digital Solutions 06 Mar 2017

Spontaneous and unpredictable, Vertigo affects all ages. It is described as the feeling of spinning without movement, dizziness or an overall imbalance sensation usually treated with medication, although there are other options.

(Geelong, Australia) Vertigo can be brought about by several different causes including infection, migraine, predispositions (genetics) or lifestyle factors. It currently affects around 15% of the adult population. There are medications on the market such as Serc and Stemetil that are designed to reduce the symptoms of vertigo including nausea and discomfort. Vestibular suppressants are designed to ease the spinning in our vision and the error signals that the balance brain is receiving from the ears. They do not stop recurrent vertigo or cure vertigo.

“Vestibular suppressant medication suppresses the communication from the inner ear to the eyes and the balance brain” says Joey Remenyi from Seeking Balance Australia. “This means that during a severe attack of spinning type vertigo, the brain is told to ignore these signals”.

Remenyi is a trained Australian vestibular audiologist who has worked with leading neurologists, ENT surgeons, psychologists and vestibular therapists. With a masters degree in clinical audiology from the University of Melbourne, along with a background in psychology, she works with clients both one on one, and through her self-help website. Seeking Balance programs were designed to assist with conditions such as vestibular migraine, Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD), meniere’s, labyrinthitis, mal debarquement, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), tinnitus and anxiety associated symptoms of dizziness. This is a holistic approach where the patient is empowered to choose their own practical exercises and tools. These programs compliment the current multidisciplinary mode of treatment especially for clients who may have tried physiotherapy, psychology or various medications in search of solutions. These online tools work in parallel.

Joey is experienced in the field of vestibular audiology and teaches vertigo sufferers how to retrain both their physical balance and their emotional reaction to the dizziness. “It is a methodical process rather than a random outcome” she says.

Whilst medication is designed to treat the symptoms of vertigo, Remenyi offers a natural approach based on supporting neuroplasticity and improving quality of life for sufferers of vertigo. All aspects of health and lifestyle are addressed including connecting to values, building self-support skills, evidence based balance exercises and learning to trust the unfolding biological process of vertigo recovery.

Many clients are coming to Remenyi after multiple doctors have tried to reassure them that nothing sinister has been identified in medical investigations. These clients are searching for strategies to ease their frustration and reduce their intermittent symptoms.

Daily suppression of the vestibular system can prevent neuroplasticity of the balance system, reducing the likelihood of re-establishing balance. Suppression occurs either through restricted movement in daily life or through daily vestibular suppressant medication.

Specialising in a new, evidence based, process for recovery of persistent dizziness and chronic vertigo, Seeking Balance Australia is commonly contacted when medical treatments are not responding or investigations are not offering them the answers they are looking for.

Through the Seeking Balance Australia website, Joey offers free vertigo support kits, discovery calls and audio snippets to encourage clients to explore their treatment options for vertigo and balance issues. Recovery of persistent vertigo is likely to require home exercises that can be learnt online and done at home. With technology becoming more accessible, vertigo clients will no longer need to sit at home wondering. They can get started building resilience and retraining their balance at home. They can receive vertigo specific support to assist them through their frustrations and learn how to generate self-support within themselves.

Read Joey’s latest content on the 5 Common Misunderstandings About Vertigo at seekingbalance.com.au