Helping Your Child Heal from Dizziness and Vertigo

Is your child struggling with dizziness and vertigo that seems to come out of nowhere? Does your little one complain of feeling like the room is spinning, or do they suddenly lose their balance during everyday activities? You’re not alone in this challenging journey. Many families throughout Cooper City, Pembroke Pines, and surrounding areas are searching for answers to help their children overcome these unsettling symptoms.

As a parent, watching your child experience dizziness and vertigo can be incredibly frightening and frustrating. You may have already tried conventional treatments that only provided temporary relief, or perhaps you’re still searching for someone who truly understands what your child is going through. The spinning sensations, balance issues, and accompanying symptoms can significantly impact your child’s daily life, from school performance to simply playing with friends.

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Proudly serving families in Cooper City, Davie, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, Weston, and throughout Broward County, FL.

What Is Helping Your Child Heal from Dizziness and Vertigo?

Dizziness and vertigo in children are complex neurological symptoms that affect how your child’s brain processes balance and spatial information. Dizziness typically refers to feelings of lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or feeling faint, while vertigo is the distinct sensation that either your child or their surroundings are spinning or moving when they’re actually still.

These symptoms occur when there’s a miscommunication between your child’s inner ear, eyes, and brain – the three systems that work together to maintain balance and orientation. When the nervous system isn’t functioning optimally, it can’t properly coordinate these essential balance mechanisms.

Unlike adult cases that might be related to age-related changes, pediatric dizziness and vertigo often stem from nervous system dysfunction that can be traced back to early developmental stressors. Understanding this root cause is crucial for helping your child find lasting relief rather than just temporary symptom management.

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Signs and Symptoms of Dizziness and Vertigo in Children

Children may not always be able to clearly describe what they’re experiencing, so it’s important to watch for these observable signs:

• Complaints of the room spinning or feeling like they’re moving when sitting still
• Sudden loss of balance or stumbling without an obvious cause
• Nausea or vomiting that accompanies dizzy spells
• Avoiding activities that involve head movement or position changes
• Difficulty concentrating or appearing “foggy” during episodes
• Holding onto walls or furniture for support more than usual
• Complaints of ear fullness or pressure
• Fatigue following dizzy episodes

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What Causes Dizziness and Vertigo in Children?

The root cause of pediatric dizziness and vertigo often lies in nervous system dysfunction that begins much earlier than when symptoms first appear. This dysfunction typically develops through what we call “The Perfect Storm” – a combination of early stressors that overwhelm your child’s developing nervous system.

This chronic nervous system dysfunction keeps your child’s body stuck in a fight-or-flight state, preventing the proper function of the vagus nerve and other crucial pathways that regulate balance.

The first component of this storm often occurs during pregnancy and birth. Birth interventions like forceps, vacuum extraction, or even prolonged labor can create tension and misalignments in your child’s delicate upper cervical spine. This area houses crucial nerve pathways that control balance and coordination.

Environmental stressors continue to impact your child’s nervous system development. These can include everything from physical falls and injuries to emotional stress and toxic exposures. When these stressors accumulate, they can create chronic subluxations – areas where the spine isn’t moving properly and nerve function becomes compromised.

This chronic nervous system dysfunction keeps your child’s body stuck in a fight-or-flight state, preventing the proper function of the vagus nerve and other crucial pathways that regulate balance. The result is a nervous system that can’t effectively coordinate the complex processes needed for stable balance and spatial orientation.

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How Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Helps with Dizziness and Vertigo

At Alive & Free Chiropractic, we take a comprehensive approach to understanding your child’s nervous system function through advanced INSiGHT scanning technology. These scans measure how well your child’s nervous system is functioning and identify areas where subluxations may be interfering with proper nerve communication.

Our gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments work to address the root cause of dizziness and vertigo by removing interference in the nervous system. When subluxations are corrected, nerve function improves, allowing your child’s brain to better coordinate the complex balance systems involving the inner ear, visual system, and proprioceptive feedback.

Many families notice improvements in their child’s balance and reduction in dizzy episodes as the nervous system begins to function more optimally. The gentle adjustments help activate the vagus nerve and shift your child’s nervous system out of chronic fight-or-flight mode, allowing natural healing processes to take place.

Research suggests that chiropractic care can be particularly effective for children because their nervous systems have greater neuroplasticity – the ability to form new neural connections and adapt. Children with dizziness and vertigo may also experience related conditions such as headaches, anxiety, or POTS, which often improve together as nervous system function is restored.

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What to Expect at Your Child’s First Visit

Your child’s first visit to our Cooper City office begins with a thorough consultation where we’ll discuss your child’s health history, current symptoms, and any previous treatments you’ve tried. We understand that every child’s experience with dizziness and vertigo is unique, and we take time to truly understand your child’s specific challenges.

Next, we’ll perform our comprehensive INSiGHT nervous system scans. These completely painless scans help us identify exactly where nervous system dysfunction may be contributing to your child’s symptoms. The scans provide objective data about your child’s nerve function that we’ll review with you in detail.

During your findings visit, we’ll explain exactly what we discovered and how it relates to your child’s dizziness and vertigo. If we can help your child, we’ll create a personalized care plan designed to address their specific needs. Our warm, welcoming office serves families from throughout Pembroke Pines, Weston, and Southwest Ranches, and we’re committed to making your experience as comfortable as possible.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Dizziness and Vertigo in Children

Is chiropractic safe for children with dizziness and vertigo?

Pediatric chiropractic care is extremely safe when performed by a trained professional. Our adjustments for children are incredibly gentle – often no more pressure than you’d use to check the ripeness of a tomato. We use specialized techniques designed specifically for children’s developing spines and nervous systems.

How long before we see improvements in my child’s dizziness?

Every child responds differently to care, and the timeline can vary based on factors like how long symptoms have been present and your child’s overall health. Some families notice changes within the first few visits, while others may take several weeks. We’ll monitor your child’s progress closely and adjust our approach as needed.

Can dizziness and vertigo in children be related to other health issues?

Yes, dizziness and vertigo often occur alongside other neurological symptoms like headaches, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, or sleep issues. Since these symptoms often share common root causes in nervous system dysfunction, addressing the underlying nerve interference can help improve multiple symptoms simultaneously (source: Dysautonomia International).

What if my child is afraid or anxious about chiropractic treatment?

We completely understand children’s fears about new experiences, especially when they’re not feeling well. Our office is designed to be kid-friendly, and we take extra time to explain everything to your child in age-appropriate terms. We never force any treatment and always work at your child’s comfort level.

Should we stop other treatments while trying chiropractic care?

We believe in working as part of your child’s healthcare team. You should never stop any prescribed medications or treatments without consulting with the prescribing physician first. Chiropractic care often works well alongside other treatments and may help enhance your child’s overall response to care.

Does insurance cover neurologically-focused chiropractic care?

Because we are neurologically-focused rather than a typical back-pain chiropractor, most major medical insurance plans do not cover what we do. Our approach is more specialized and more intensive than what insurance was designed for. However, we accept HSA and FSA — which many families have and don’t realize they can use for this. We also offer family discounts and flexible options to make care affordable. We always find a way for families who are committed to their child’s health.

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Take the Next Step for Your Child

Watching your child struggle with dizziness and vertigo can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Our neurologically-focused approach has helped many children in our community find relief and get back to enjoying their childhood activities without fear of dizzy episodes.

Your child’s nervous system has an incredible ability to heal when given the right support. The first step is understanding what’s causing their symptoms and creating a plan to address the root cause. We’re here to guide you through this process with compassion, expertise, and hope.

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