What Is Cerebellar Vestibular Dysfunction?

The cerebellum is located in the lower back portion of the brain, just above the brain stem. It is responsible for movement, balance and muscle tone. The vestibular region of the inner ear aids the cerebellum by providing information related to head position.

Effects

• The symptoms of cerebellar vestibular dysfunction primarily manifest as difficulty walking (ataxia), dizziness and abnormal eye movements (nystagmus). A person with this condition may appear to be uncoordinated.

Causes

• Cerebellar vestibular dysfunction can be caused by genetic disorders, injury to the cerebellum and/or vestibular region of the inner ear, chronic alcohol abuse and certain medications, such as the antibiotic gentamicin.

Diagnosis

• The diagnosis of cerebellar vestibular dysfunction is made after ruling out other causes of dizziness and using brain imaging studies (computed tomography [CT] or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] scans). The physician may use neurological screening tests to evaluate motor function to determine the extent to which the condition affects daily functioning.

Treatment

• The goal of physical and occupational therapy in the treatment of cerebellar vestibular dysfunction is to help the sufferer to adapt to changes in balance and coordination to complete routine daily activities. Medications for dizziness (Antivert [meclizine]), anxiety (Valium [diazepam]) and motion sickness (scopolamine) may be prescribed.

Theories/Speculation

• According to the Center for Dyslexia, cerebellar vestibular dysfunction may be associated with learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, as it is believed that the associated structures play a role in learning. Limited research has revealed that those with dyslexia demonstrate many of the symptoms associated with cerebellar vestibular dysfunction.