Patients are asked to exercise daily at home and to visit the physical therapist or occupational therapist during an initial period of four to six weeks. Not all patients who have an inner ear disorder need vestibular rehabilitation. Patients who do not demonstrate a spontaneous resolution of symptoms such as dizziness and disequilibrium within six months of their onset may benefit from therapy. In these patients, the central nervous system seems unable to adequately compensate for the inner ear deficit. Many patients have undergone a period of medical management using medications to suppress vestibular function and reduce symptoms, with little or no success.
Symptoms become chronic, often lasting for periods of months or years.
These patients with unresolved inner ear disorders may significantly improve their symptoms following vestibular rehabilitation. Another type of patient who may benefit from vestibular rehabilitation is the one with acute or abrupt loss of vestibular function. Patients who have surgery for unresolved vestibular problems will benefit from a vestibular rehabilitation program designed to help the patient effectively compensate for his or her inner ear disorder. Several patient studies have been done to examine the effect of vestibular habituation therapy on dizziness symptoms. These studies are unanimous in demonstrating a decrease in symptoms of dizziness and disequilibrium after exercise therapy.