Dizziness

Episodes of dizziness are usually brief and infrequent, but they’re distressing for children, and even a short-lived bout with dizziness can lead to an injury in active teens. The exceptional doctors and healthcare team at THINK Neurology for Kids have extensive experience getting to the cause of your child’s dizziness and providing customized care that keeps them healthy and safe. To schedule a timely appointment without months of waiting, call the office in The Woodlands, Katy Sugar Land, or Austin, Texas, or use the online booking feature.

 

 

 

 

What is the difference between dizziness and vertigo?

Dizziness is a general term referring to sensations such as lightheadedness, loss of balance, disorientation, and vertigo. Vertigo is a unique type of dizziness that makes you feel like you or your surroundings are spinning.

What causes dizziness?

The body depends on multiple systems to maintain balance, including sensory information from the eyes, muscles, joints, and the vestibular system located inside the ears. Health conditions that affect any of these systems can lead to dizziness.

Common causes of dizziness include:

• Dehydration
• Ear infection
• Low blood sugar
• Seizures
• Anemia
• Anxiety
• Irregular heartbeat
• Neurological disorders
• Headaches and migraines
• Low oxygen from overexertion
• Concussions and traumatic brain injury

 

An inner ear condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) may cause vertigo. This condition occurs when small crystals normally found inside your inner ear break away and float in the fluid-filled ear canals that maintain your balance.

What symptoms accompany dizziness?

While dizziness and lightheadedness are primary symptoms, your child or teen may also experience:

• Unusual clumsiness or poor balance
• Ringing in their ears
• Ear pain
• Difficulty hearing
• Confusion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Eyes darting back and forth
• Loss of fine or gross motor skills

Young children may have a hard time explaining how they feel, or they may insist on lying still, especially if their dizziness or vertigo lasts more than a few minutes.

How is dizziness diagnosed and treated?

Diagnosing the cause of dizziness begins with a complete examination and review of your child’s medical history, including the details of their symptoms and activities associated with their symptoms. For example, it’s important to know if they get dizzy when they stand up quickly or when moving their head.

The team at THINK Neurology for Kids assesses your child for central nervous system problems known to cause dizziness. For example, dizziness is a key symptom in patients with Chiari malformations and seizure disorders.

Patients with dizziness may need to have additional diagnostic testing, such as:

• Blood tests
• CT scan
• MRI
• Vestibular function testing
• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• Eye movement testing

Since your child’s treatment depends on the underlying cause, there are many possible options. The doctors and healthcare team at THINK Neurology for Kids have extensive experience in a broad range of possible treatments for dizziness. After talking with you about the underlying problem, they recommend the best plan for your child.

If your child’s dizziness may be due to a concussion, the team at THINK Neurology for Kids uses ImPACT® testing, a short computerized test that evaluates their cognitive functioning.

If your child or teen experiences dizziness or vertigo, call THINK Neurology for Kids or schedule an appointment online.