How to Help Kids Experiencing Vertigo Episodes

Children often struggle to articulate their feelings, especially when dealing with problematic symptoms like vertigo. Suppose you’re a parent or guardian of a young child with vertigo-causing conditions. In that case, you must learn how to extend help even when a child doesn’t explicitly explain how bad the spinning sensations get. You might also find it helpful to have go-to healthcare professionals to assist your ailing child, such as a vertigo chiropractor in Cedar Falls. 

The sooner you can figure out how to move forward, the better chances your child has at enjoying things like running around in the neighborhood and playing with friends.

So, what causes vertigo attacks in the first place?

Pediatric vertigo or dizziness can stem from all kinds of things. It’s crucial to familiarize yourself with these to determine the best course of action you must take. Below is a quick list of the common causes or triggers of pediatric vertigo or dizziness: 

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) 

This problem stems from loose calcium crystals inside the ears. The crystal fragments travel to places they shouldn’t be, like the semicircular canal, disrupting normal vestibular function. 

Concussion or head injury

Head injuries can impact the topmost neck bones – the atlas and axis. The force from accidents or injuries affects spinal alignment and the delicate nerve roots and brainstem tissue, impairing your child’s ability to detect movements and maintain balance.  

Tumor or cancer

Abnormal tumor growth on the brainstem, brain and vestibular nerve can impair certain nervous system functions like maintaining balance. Having these things checked out as early as you notice indications like headaches, seizures, persistent vertigo, and nausea is crucial to avoid complications and help your child recover faster. 

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Inner ear infection

Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis can sometimes lead to spinning sensations and unsteadiness. These infections can also impair hearing and cause ear congestion.  

Meniere’s disease

Meniere’s is a vestibular condition that impairs hearing and balance. Studies have varying opinions on what causes this debilitating health problem. For example, some believe it has something to do with Idiopathic Endolymphatic Hydrops or abnormal accumulation of fluids. Others associate it with a hyperactive immune system and abnormal inflammatory response. 

Migraine

Juvenile migraines are more common than you think! It affects about 10 percent of children aged 5 to 15 years old. The episodes cause several symptoms ranging from allodynia to vertigo episodes. Notably, many kids who have migraines earlier in life experience worse symptoms when they grow old. Reports also note that migraines in children usually begin in the late afternoon. If your kid often experiences migraine symptoms, you must contact a pediatrician or a headache specialist. This way, you can find a suitable source of relief or get a referral to other professionals like a chiropractic doctor.

How to Help Kids Experiencing Vertigo Attacks

Generally, the first step to helping your kid cope better with vertigo attacks is to trace the root cause. Find out if it’s any of the health conditions listed above, or something else like seizures, juvenile arthritis, or eye movement disorders. Then it would help if you considered speaking with a physician, physical therapist, or a vertigo chiropractor in Cedar Falls. 

Some of the usual care regimen options that professionals suggest to alleviate vertigo episodes include the following: 

• Taking medications to treat infections that may be affecting the vestibular organs
• Behavioral modifications like eating salty food and drinking caffeinated beverages
• Working closely with physical therapists to perform exercises like The Epley and Semont Maneuvers
• Visiting an Upper Cervical Chiropractic practice to determine if your child has cervical spine misalignments

Call Our Vertigo Chiropractor In Cedar Falls For Help

Pediatric dizziness or vertigo can be quite a headache to deal with, especially when the affected patient is in early childhood. Hence, you might find it helpful to consult with a vertigo chiropractor in Cedar Falls. Chances are, the recurring vertigo episodes of your child have something to do with misaligned atlas and axis bones. 

As we often tell our patients, the topmost neck bones can affect vestibular function because they can compress nearby tissues like the brainstem and cerebral blood vessels. Additionally, the slightest change in your atlas alignment with the head can compromise body posture and gait pattern. 

We recommend booking a consultation to determine if your child has neck bone misalignments.
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