Finding the right care for a vestibular disorder can be difficult for anyone. Symptoms like dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and brain fog can be hard to describe, vestibular disorders are often misunderstood, and many patients see multiple healthcare providers before getting an accurate diagnosis. For people whose primary language is Spanish, those challenges can be even greater.

Language is one obvious barrier, but it’s not the only one. Cultural differences can influence how people describe their symptoms, when and where they seek care, and how comfortable they feel asking questions or advocating for themselves. Some people may also have reasons to distrust the healthcare system based on their own experiences or those of their family or community. And even when patients are actively looking for answers, finding reliable, easy-to-understand information about vestibular disorders in Spanish can be challenging.

Today, we’re going to explore these issues from both sides of the healthcare experience. Joining us is Johan, a Spanish-speaking vestibular patient, who will share his personal experience navigating the healthcare system, and Jesus Gomez, a Spanish-speaking audiologist with vestibular training, who will offer a clinician’s perspective on the barriers Spanish-speaking patients may encounter and what healthcare providers can do to better serve them.

Guests

Johan, also known as “The Chappiness Guy,” is a vestibular patient, advocate, and VeDA Ambassador. After developing vestibular migraine and PPPD at age 33, he turned his experience into an opportunity to support others. Through his Find Your Chappiness YouTube channel and Vestibular TALKS interview series, Johan raises awareness, shares patient stories, and helps people with vestibular disorders feel less alone. He also moderates a WhatsApp group for Spanish-speaking vestibular patients.

Jesus Gomez, AuD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director of the Vestibular Sciences Lab. He earned his Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and his PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from James Madison University. His research focuses on vestibular science, fall risk, and improving the accessibility of vestibular and fall-risk assessment across different language groups. His overarching goal is to advance equitable approaches to vestibular care.

VeDA’s Spanish Resources

For many people living with a vestibular disorder, treatment focuses on medications, vestibular rehabilitation, and lifestyle changes. But in some cases, surgery may be considered when symptoms are severe, persistent, or caused by a structural problem that cannot be addressed in other ways.

The decision to undergo surgery is rarely simple. Patients and healthcare providers must carefully weigh the potential benefits against the risks, consider alternative treatments, and prepare for what can sometimes be a challenging recovery process. While surgery can be life-changing for the right candidate, it often comes with its own physical and emotional hurdles.

In today's episode, we'll explore how doctors determine when an operation is appropriate, what patients can realistically expect before and after surgery, and how recovery unfolds over time.

Guests

Stefanie Adams suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries and had her third concussion in 2017. As soon as she hit her head, she felt off-balance and started to sway. Over the next year, she developed terrible migraines and dizziness. Eventually the migraines left, but the dizziness stayed. A year later she discovered that she had a perilymph fistula (a hole in the membrane separating the middle and inner ears) when she got the flu, blew her nose, and the room started to spin. She’s had surgery to repair the fistula and is now a VeDA Ambassador, Board Member, and vestibular advocate.

Habib G. Rizk, M.D. grew up in Beirut, Lebanon. He attended the Faculty of Medicine-Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon, and pursued an Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery residency at Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital in Beirut, followed by an Otologic Medicine and Surgery Fellowship under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Teixido at Christiana Care in Wilmington, Delaware, and a two-year Neurotology fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Rizk’s interests span all areas of otology and neurotology, with a specific focus on the medical and surgical management of vestibular disorders. He is a professor in the MUSC Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery , and the Director of the Multidisciplinary Vestibular Program. Dr. Rizk is currently on the board of directors and past president of the Vestibular Disorders Association. He is a member of the Bárány Society and a fellow of the American Neurotology Society and the American Otological Society. He is also a member of the American Balance Society and of the Otology and Neurotology Education Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Living with a chronic illness can challenge not only the body but also a person’s sense of identity, purpose, and hope. For many, spirituality becomes an important part of the healing journey—offering meaning in difficult moments, strengthening resilience, and helping people navigate uncertainty. Yet spirituality looks different for everyone, shaped by personal beliefs, values, and life experiences. In this episode of the ICU Podcast, we explore the role spirituality can play in coping with chronic vestibular conditions. We’re joined by Lynn Johnson, a vestibular patient and devout Christian, and Rev. Carol Rexroad Cannon, a vestibular patient and retired United Methodist pastor, as they share how faith and spirituality have supported their journeys and helped them find strength, connection, and hope.

Guests

Carol Cannon graduated with a BA in chemistry from Carleton College in Minnesota and received a Master's in Divinity (MDiv) in Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral training from Yale Divinity School. She served with her husband, Robert, as a United Methodist pastor for forty years. Carol was diagnosed with vestibular neuritis in 2016, which developed into PPPD. Vestibular rehab therapy has helped restore her balance. Carol enjoys hiking mountain trails near her home, visiting with family, and volunteering in the church and community to work for justice, peace, and wholeness.

Lynn Johnson’s life changed in 2015 when she suddenly developed imbalance and loud tinnitus. After months of worsening symptoms and multiple doctor visits, she was diagnosed with Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED) and Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction. She now lives with profound hearing loss, oscillopsia, and imbalance, which ended her career as a high school biology teacher and limited her mobility and independence. Lynn believes earlier diagnosis might have preserved her hearing. Despite these challenges, she remains determined to live fully. She is a VeDA Ambassador, co-leads a support group for vestibular patients with hearing loss, and facilitates an AIED Facebook support community.

Attribution: The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days by Kate Bowler and Jessica Ritchie. New York: Convergent Books, 2023. Blessing # 67: “For when you thought you would feel different by now." https://katebowler.com