Deaf People with Balance Challenges
Friday November 7, 2008
When I say "balance," I am not referring to balancing your checkbook. I am referring to balance as in being able to stand up and walk comfortably. When I first got my cochlear implant, and later when I had a concussion, I experienced what it is like to have difficulty with balance. It is hard to put into words what it feels like to not have normal balance. I experienced unsteadiness, my head spinning, and difficulty walking normally.
Some deaf people have balance problems, even without a cochlear implant or a concussion. Do you have, or do you know of, any deaf people with balance problems?
Comments
What I know for a fact is that problems with balance is an aftermath of spinal meningitis. Also the imbalance of fluids in the ear results in problems of walking straight following an attack of dizzy spells.
DS has malformed semi-circular canals. he received CI at 1 yo but his balance issues are due to the anatomy. He walks/runs like a champ now but he did not really walk well until 4yo.. anyway probably not what you were looking for but i’m on DV as well and was flipping thru the headlines and saw yours.
amy
It’s not uncommon to find Deaf people who has balance problems. Balance problems and deafness are usually related in these cases. However, I know some people who developed balance problems later due to a virus or injury, totally unrelated to deafness.
Some people do benefit from physical therapy to address the balance issues. Some also benefit from cutting food and spices from their diet.