Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) in Singapore

The exact causes of PPPD are still being worked out. However, the general theory is that PPPD is caused by the brain’s inability to fix itself after damage to the vestibular system.

The vestibulocochlear nerve goes from the inner ears to the vestibular nuclei in the brainstem. Together with other parts of the brain, these nuclei combine information about posture and movement with information from other senses, such as vision.

When the vestibular system says something, like “we’re moving,” and the other systems say “no, we’re not,” dizziness is a common result.

Most of the time, the inner ears balance each other out. For example, when you turn your head to the right, one vestibulocochlear nerve is more active than the other. The brain interprets this difference in signal strength as a head turn.

So what happens if something, like inner ear disorders, makes the signal from one ear weaker? Even if the person is standing still, the vestibular nuclei tells the rest of the brain that the head is turning.

Brains are usually very flexible and can learn to change when neural signals change. When the vestibular nerve is damaged, the imbalanced electrical signals are eventually accepted as the new normal, and life goes on.

In PPPD, the brain doesn’t adjust to a new normal.

Even if the original transient medical condition has healed, the brain is still very sensitive to anything that has to do with movement or balance.

Additionally, there is strong evidence that the common symptoms associated with PPPD are influenced by anxiety disorders and other psychiatric disorders.

However, rather than being classified as a structural or psychological problem, PPPD is categorised as a chronic functional vestibular disorder.