Supporting Your Child through Vertigo: Parenting Tips and Treatment Options

All photos: Helena Lopez

Parents can often feel helpless when trying to contain the problem, especially since the child has difficulty expressing symptoms. In a way, you can help your child overcome vertigo, and you, as a parent, can learn more about the disease and possibly consider treatments.

Here you will find essential medical tips and valuable parenting recommendations to help you when your child faces symptoms of vertigo.

Identifying triggers and symptoms

Finding the triggers and understanding the symptoms is one of the first steps to helping your child manage their dizziness. Monitoring the timing of dizziness attacks can help identify possible causes such as sudden head movements, changes in posture, or even fatigue.

Parents can manage to determine when these signs appear so that they do not make the situation worse and give the child the necessary help.

Emotional support and coping

Children who experience dizziness can be emotionally taxed, especially if it occurs frequently or is unplanned. Dizziness can cause anger, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness, especially if it interferes with your child’s schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and social interactions. As a parent, your emotional support is essential.

treatment options

Depending on the underlying cause, your child’s dizziness treatment options may vary after diagnosis. Below are some typical medical interventions that may be suggested.

Damage caused by an underlying medical condition, Bartian ear infection, or migraine disorder can be alleviated with medication. However, the use of treatments such as antihistamines and steroids can help reduce inner ear inflammation, and the use of antibiotics can help clear the infection. If a patient’s dizziness occurs in connection with a migraine, they may be prescribed medication to take daily to reduce the chance of developing vertigo.

Head movements recommended by doctors include several repositioning procedures called repositioning procedures in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which result from the movement of small crystals in the inner ear. Such exercises, such as the Epley maneuver, are thought to help minimize the effects of vertigo by displacing displaced crystals. If prescribed by your doctor, these approaches can be taught at home or performed at a medical center.

Parenting tips for managing dizziness at home

You can continue to support your child even after receiving treatment for vertigo. As a parent, there are many ways you can make your surroundings safer and more comfortable while managing your illness. Here are some tactics that can help.

• Establish a safe environment

Problems such as dizziness can cause children to lose their sense of balance and are more likely to fall or stumble. Special care should be taken to avoid tripping over obstacles on the floors and hallways of the house, and handrails should be installed, especially in bathrooms and around stairs.

rest

It’s equally important to make sure your child gets enough rest, as stress and fatigue can make dizziness worse. Establish a nighttime routine and encourage positive thinking exercises and breathing control to calm yourself down. In the same situation, avoid spending too much time with your children in front of a screen and engage them in relaxing activities to help them fall asleep.

• encourage open communication

Young people experiencing dizziness may feel fearful or anxious, primarily if they are unsure of what is happening to their body. Encourage your child to honestly express their symptoms and feelings. If she feels lightheaded, tell her it’s okay to take a nap or rest. Giving your child a clear explanation of their illness may make them feel less anxious about their symptoms and feel more in control of their situation.

To summarize…