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Balance
The biological system that enables individuals to know where their bodies are in the environment and to maintain a desired position. Normal balance depends on information from the labyrinth in the inner ear, from other senses such as sight and touch, and from muscle movement.
Balance Disorder
Disruption in the labyrinth, the inner ear organ that controls the balance system, which allows individuals to know where their bodies are in the environment. The labyrinth works with other systems in the body, such as the visual and skeletal systems, to maintain posture.
Barotrauma
Injury to the middle ear caused by a reduction of air pressure.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Balance disorder that results in a sudden onset of dizziness, spinning, or vertigo that occurs when suddenly moving the head from one position to another.
Benign Tumor
A tumor that is not malignant; it is not a cancer.
Bilateral
A term describing a condition that affects both sides of the body or two paired organs, such as tonsils.
Blepharospasm
A movement disorder involving excessive eye blinking.
BPPV
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
Brainstem Implant
An auditory prosthesis that bypasses the cochlea and auditory nerve. This type of implant helps individuals who cannot benefit from a cochlear implant because the auditory nerves are not working.
Branchial
A term used to describe cysts or sinus tracts that are derived from indentations in the fetus. The word means pertaining to, or resembling, gills of a fish. There are typically four possible branchial anomalies in children that start up near the ear and end down near the collarbone.
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