Dizziness

What is dizziness?

In general, dizziness is considered to be the sensation experienced as a result of a disturbance in the relationship between the person and the spatial environment. It is the perception of patterns of movement that are not present in reality. Dizziness is therefore an illusion. Dizziness is always a symptom; it is never a separate condition.

There are three forms of dizziness: vertigo (everything revolves), a sensation of lightheadedness (the drifting feeling) and unsteadiness (a sensation of instability in the legs). ²¹⁹

• Vertigo is linked to the balance organ. If the balance organ does not work properly, the brain receives inaccurate information and everything seems to revolve. Examples include Ménière's disease and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Some syndromes also result in this type of dizziness, an example being Type I Usher syndrome.
• Lightheadedness or a sensation of imminent fainting can also be caused by tension, anxiety and somberness. This can be accompanied by rapid superficial breathing (hyperventilation) and may be caused by severe emotions (such as being startled), fatigue (for example after standing for a long time), suddenly rising from a chair or bed, anaemia, alcohol and certain drugs that may cause dizziness as a side-effect. Examples of medication of this kind are diuretics, medication for blood pressure, sleeping pills, antidepressants, some anti-epileptics, some painkillers and some antibiotics.
• Unsteadiness is a feature of neurological conditions, impaired vision, impaired hearing, weakness in the leg muscles, foot problems, diabetes and the side-effects of medicines.

What are the complaints associated with dizziness?

In vertigo, people see their surroundings revolve or they have the sensation that they are turning or falling themselves. It can be accompanied by sweating, pallor and nausea, vomiting, temporary impairment of hearing, ringing in the ears or a full feeling in the ear. The complaints may last for several seconds but also for weeks. ²¹⁹

Dizziness in combination with sensitivity to noise has been described in a condition specifically affecting the balance organ. Dizziness can be seen as very threatening: it literally and figuratively puts people off balance. It can result in a feeling of uncertainty in daily life as a whole.
Dizziness can have a major impact on social life and life as a member of society at large. It can sometimes result in a loss of independence in older people in particular.

People with intellectual disabilities sometimes find it impossible to communicate these symptoms. The people around them may then notice only a change in behaviour.

How common is dizziness in the general population?

This complaint is found in between 0.7% (of people aged 25 to 44 years) and 4.5% (of people aged > 75 years) of the general population, with the average being 2.7%. ²¹⁹

How common is dizziness in people with intellectual disabilities?

No literature has been found about dizziness in people with intellectual disabilities. There are grounds for assuming that dizziness in people with intellectual disabilities will be more frequent given the causes discussed here.

It has been found that dizziness is more common in children who take medication to stabilise moods. ⁵¹⁵  Dizziness is a known side-effect of some anti-epileptics.