Vestibular dysfunction occurs when the processing of information provided by your vestibular system is inadequate or inappropriate. Your ability to hold your gaze steady and keep yourself upright will be impaired. Your peripheral sensory apparatus (vestibular, visual and proprioceptive), a central processor (brain stem and cerebellum) and a mechanism for motor output integrate information to produce eye movements and postural adjustment to enable balance.
Impairment of any part of the system can lead to symptoms of vertigo, dizziness and imbalance.
The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) generates eye movements, which enable clear vision while the head is in motion and the vestibulospinal reflex (VSR) generates compensatory body movements to maintain head and postural stability.


If you are feeling dizzy, unsteady or like the world is spinning, it is very likely that you have a problem with component parts of your vestibular system. A vestibular assessment identifies if you have vestibular dysfunction and rehabilitation addresses the dysfunction.