))
The Long Road to Diagnosis
Manage episode 358078923 series 3435178
Content provided by The Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) & Unfixed Media, The Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA), and Unfixed Media. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) & Unfixed Media, The Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA), and Unfixed Media or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
For many people with vertigo, dizziness, and imbalance it can take months or years to get an accurate diagnosis. Emergency room physicians rule out life-threatening conditions and refer patients to their primary care providers, who may be ill-equipped to diagnose vestibular problems or provide an appropriate specialist referral. As a result, people are often tossed back and forth between healthcare providers, many of whom provide little support or guidance, and in the end may end up with one or more inaccurate diagnoses or none at all.
In this episode of the ICU ("I See You") podcast hosts Cynthia Ryan (VeDA Executive Director) and Kimberly Warner (Unfixed Media Founder & Director) explore the often long road to diagnosis that many vestibular patients must travel before they finally find out what is causing their symptoms. They invite Dr. Matthew Crowson and vestibular patient Stefanie Adams to discuss this topic, bringing together the patient and healthcare provider perspectives.
This podcast is a co-production of the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) and Unfixed Media.
About the Guests
Stefanie Adams
Stefanie suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries and had her third concussion in 2017. As soon as she hit her head she felt off-balance and started to sway. Over the next year she developed terrible migraines and dizziness. Eventually, the migraines left, but the dizziness stayed. A year later she discovered that she had a perilymph fistula (a hole in the membrane separating the middle and inner ears) when she got the flu, blew her nose, and the room started to spin. She’s had surgery to repair the fistula and is now a VeDA Ambassador and vestibular advocate.
Matthew Crowson, MD, MPA, MASc, FRC
Dr. Matthew Crowson is a fellowship-trained ear and skull base surgeon. His primary clinical focus is on diagnosis, medical, and surgical management of balance disorders. Dr. Crowson has been a speaker at national and international hearing & balance research meetings and has authored a textbook and numerous peer-reviewed publications in otology, neurotology and otolaryngology. He has served on the VeDA Board of Directors and Medical Advocacy Committee. He also participates in medical outreach work with prior mission trips to Western Kenya, rural Thailand, and the Canadian Arctic.
--
VeDA relies on your support to help vestibular patients on their journey to find a life rebalanced. You can make a real difference by making a donation at vestibular.org/donate
If you are experiencing vertigo, tinnitus, dizziness, imbalance, brain fog, or other balance-related symptoms, VeDA may be able to help. To learn more about vestibular conditions and get help finding a diagnosis, treatment, coping tools, and support visit vestibular.org
For help finding a vestibular healthcare provider visit vestibular.org/directory
If you are a vestibular healthcare professional and want to reach more patients, join VeDA's Healthcare Provider Directory by becoming a member at vestibular.org/membership. Additional benefits include patient education articles you can brand with your logo.
19 episodes
Share
