Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA)

07/24/2025

Could a neural implant help you walk steady again?

A groundbreaking new device—modeled after a cochlear implant—is giving hope to the 1.8 million people with severe balance disorders like bilateral vestibular loss.

📌 Meet Richard Stephens, the first person to take the vestibular implant home. After damage to his inner ear left him dizzy and dependent on a cane, this device helped him walk, drive, and live independently again.

🧠 It works by bypassing damaged inner-ear hair cells and sending signals straight to the vestibular nerve—essentially rewiring the body’s balance system.

It’s not perfect yet, but it’s a major leap forward. Because balance isn’t just about convenience—it’s about living fully.

📖 Read more via Smithsonian Magazine:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/can-medical-device-restore-your-balance-180986804/

Nearly two million people worldwide have lost the simple ability to feel steady. Now researchers have developed an experimental medical implant that promises to restore the sensory machinery responsible for balance

07/23/2025

🙋‍♀️ Raise your hand if you’ve ever…
– Left a loud room just to breathe
– Sat in the car to regroup before walking in
– Googled “why do I feel like I’m on a boat” at 2 AM
– Asked yourself, “Am I dizzy… or just anxious again?”
– Felt frustrated when your symptoms made no sense
– Held onto walls or counters and hoped no one noticed
– Canceled plans (again) and felt guilty about it

💙 If even one of these hits home—you’re not alone.
This community gets it.

Drop a ✋ or share your own “IYKYK” vestibular moment below ⬇️

07/21/2025

💙 Healing isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, too.
You’re doing better than you think.

07/21/2025

We’re going LIVE today! 🎥

Join us at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT for a special Facebook Live event with Dr. Viviana Mucci and Luca Vajani from BEqualise!

They will be introducing the Bequalise Belt and Companion App—a breakthrough tool designed to support people with vestibular disorders through guided breath and movement.

✅ Learn how it works
✅ Hear the science behind it
✅ Discover how it can empower your recovery journey

📍 Watch here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/736898946164856
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7341904603493318656/comments/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-x-83hhap8

See you soon! 💙

07/20/2025

⏳ Just Over a Week Away! ⏳
VeDA’s virtual gala, Evening for a Life Rebalanced, is coming up next Tuesday, July 29th!

This meaningful evening brings our community together to spotlight the real-life impact of vestibular research, advocacy, and support.

🎤 What to expect:
• Medical advocacy insights from Drs. Rizk & Kheradmand
• Powerful patient stories from clinical trials, the patient registry & more
• Heather Davies (Meniere’s Muse) on the value of research
• Reflections from a VeDA donor
• Special messages from VeDA’s board & development team

💻 Attend from anywhere — and be part of this powerful show of support for those living with invisible vestibular disorders.
🎟️ RSVP now: https://secure.vestibular.org/campaigns/elr-2025

07/19/2025

Meniere’s by the numbers.

📊 600,000+ people in the U.S. are affected
🕒 Most commonly diagnosed between ages 40–60
👂 1 in 3 people experience permanent hearing loss
⏳ It often takes years to receive a proper diagnosis
Meniere’s disease is a chronic vestibular condition that causes episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. It’s unpredictable, often misunderstood, and deeply life-altering.

💙 The more we understand, the more we can support.
Learn more: vestibular.org/article/diagnosis-treatment/types-of-vestibular-disorders

07/17/2025

Crowds feel too loud. Grocery aisles too bright. Scrolling too fast makes your head spin.
If that sounds familiar, you might be dealing with vestibular migraine.

Vestibular migraine is a neurological condition that affects your balance system. Unlike typical migraines, it doesn’t always come with head pain. Instead, it shows up as:
🌀 Dizziness or vertigo
🌫️ Brain fog and disorientation
🎧 Sound and light sensitivity
🚶‍♀️ Motion intolerance
📱 Visual triggers (like scrolling or fast movement)

It can last minutes, hours, or even days—and it’s often mistaken for anxiety, BPPV, or even panic attacks.

If you're experiencing these symptoms, you're not imagining it. You're not alone. And with the right support, vestibular migraine is manageable.

💙 Learn more: https://vestibular.org/article/diagnosis-treatment/types-of-vestibular-disorders/vestibular-migraine/

07/16/2025

It’s hard to explain… unless you’ve lived it.

Living with a vestibular disorder can feel like walking on a tightrope in a world that won’t stop moving. Like you’re on a boat, even when you're standing still. Like your senses are constantly overwhelmed and your brain never gets a break.

It’s exhausting. It’s invisible. And yet—you keep going.

💙 To everyone navigating this experience day after day: we see you.

07/15/2025

🦩 Summer fun with a purpose! 🦩

We've just added some bright and beachy flamingo-themed products to our Amazon storefront—including floaties, pool gear, and more. Perfect for your next summer adventure!

🛒 Every purchase helps support VeDA’s mission—because a portion of proceeds comes back to us.

👉 Browse here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/vestibulardisordersassociationveda/list/ZLSLC8YL6KOP?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_d

P.S. Have you heard of Jeep ducking? We’re thinking… flamingo ducking might be the next big thing. What do you think—would you pass along a pink duck to brighten someone’s day? 💗

Let us know in the comments!

07/14/2025

Mark Your Calendar! 🗓️ VeDA is going LIVE with the team behind the innovative BEqualise Belt.

🗓 July 21, 2025
🕘 9am PDT / 12pm EDT
📍 Join us on the below channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/736898946164856
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7341904603493318656/comments/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-x-83hhap8

Learn how the Bequalise Belt and Companion App are helping people with vestibular disorders regain balance and calm through the power of breath and movement.

🎙 Featuring Dr. Viviana Mucci and Luca Vajani
💡 Discover the science, inspiration, and vision behind this game-changing wellness tool.

Don’t miss this empowering conversation for the vestibular community!

BONUS! When you purchase through this link, VeDA receives 20% of the sale to support vestibular awareness and advocacy: https://shop.bequalise.com/VEDA

See you there!