Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the membership benefits?
- What is the cost of a membership subscription?
- How can I sign up for membership?
- What is the difference between dues and donations?
- Is my membership transferable?
- How do I add my clinic's contact information to your provider directory (Resource List) of health care providers who have a special interest in diagnosing and treating vestibular disorders?
- I'm having difficulty getting a definitive diagnosis. Could someone at VEDA provide an opinion about my condition if I send in my diagnostic test results?
- What is vestibular rehabilitation?
- Which patients need therapy?
- Is a physician's referral needed to enter therapy?
- Where do I find health specialists who diagnose and treat vestibular disorders?
- How can I order publications?
- How do I determine which publication(s) to order?
- Can you mail a list of publications and membership options to a friend/family member who does not have Internet access?
- Can I make duplicate copies of your publications to distribute?
- Can I download information that I see on the Web site?
- I live outside of the U.S. and would like to order VEDA's videotape. Will it work on my VCR?
- What type of payment do you accept?
- Can I order in non-US currencies?
- There was a problem with my credit card bill; what should I do?
- Can I place an order and have you send me an invoice for payment?
- What is VEDA’s returns/refund policy?
- Do you refund shipping charges?
- Do you offer special discounts to non-profit organizations?
- Will I receive a discount if I order several copies of the same publication?"margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
FAQs about VEDA MEMBERSHIP
What are the membership benefits?
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All members receive discounts on purchases. Membership also includes a subscription to VEDA’s quarterly newsletter, On the Level, which provides information on topics such as diagnosis, treatment, research, and coping strategies.
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All new members receive an information packet with the first year of membership.
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Individual members have the option of joining the Link List so that they can communicate directly with other VEDA members who understand first-hand what it is like to experience the stages of seeking a diagnosis, finding effective treatment, and managing the personal impacts of a vestibular disorder.
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Professional members receive a collection of sample documents, discounts on bundles of educational materials for distributing to patients, and an invitation to join VEDA’s Resource List of vestibular specialists. (Resource Lists were requested more than 13,000 times per month during 2005.)
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All members have the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping to support an organization that works at elevating public awareness of the challenges associated with vestibular disorders.
What is the cost of a membership subscription?
Membership subscription rates depend on the type of membership (Basic or Professional), whether the membership is for a new member or a renewing member, whether an individual lives within or outside of the United States (because of international postage rates), and whether a membership is paid for in one or three year increments. Please see VEDA’s online store for the complete schedule of subscription rate options.
How can I sign up for membership?
You may pay for a membership subscription in VEDA’s online store. If you prefer, you may print out our order form and send your check or credit card charge information to VEDA by mail or fax.
What is the difference between dues and donations?
To comply with the laws governing nonprofit organizations, VEDA must distinguish between money it receives for dues, money it receives as donations and money it receives in payment for books and other materials. If someone sends us a check not accompanied by a note explaining what the money is for, we assume it is a donation.
IRS (Internal Revenue Service) guidelines allow people who claim itemized deductions on their federal income tax returns to disregard items of “insubstantial” value received from nonprofit organizations in return for payment. You or your tax advisor will have to decide whether items and services received with your member subscription dues (such as VEDA's quarterly newsletter, On the Level) allow you to combine the dues and donations you pay to VEDA in a single tax year and call them “donations.”
Is my membership transferable?
Membership subscriptions are only transferable if a member's address changes and the customer submits notification of the new address to VEDA using our contact information linked here. Memberships are not transferable to a different customer, with one exception: during 2006, a current professional membership for a clinic’s general practice may be assigned or transferred to one individual physician, therapist, or audiologist within that clinic. If a clinic participates on the Resource Lists (provider directory) and has a professional membership listed under the name of a business manager, the membership must be transferred to a specific health professional in the clinic who specializes in vestibular disorders.
How do I add my clinic's contact information to your directory listing of health care providers who have a special interest in diagnosing and treating vestibular disorders?
If you are a professional who treats patients with vestibular disorders and would like to be on our Resource List, you may print out and return the Resource List Information Form linked here. Please note that your professional membership dues must accompany this form. Because maintenance of VEDA's Resource Lists requires a significant amount of staff time, we now require Resource List participants (except those listed only as support-group leaders, some of whom are not professionals) to support these lists with professional membership dues.
To become a professional member, you may visit VEDA's online Store to make a credit-card payment or to find a printable order form that you may send to VEDA with your check or credit card information. Please be sure to choose the appropriate Professional Membership option.
I'm having difficulty getting a definitive diagnosis. Could someone at VEDA provide an opinion about my condition if I send in my diagnostic test results?
No one here is a medical doctor, so we can't diagnose or offer treatment suggestions, and we cannot provide you with any feedback on your personal test results. One of VEDA's goals is to provide access to information for those who are dealing with dizziness and balance disorders that occur because of inner ear dysfunction. Accordingly, we have some information that might help you and your doctor communicate about your concerns. Our publications include background information on such things as diagnostic testing and the possible misconceptions that can result in certain situations. See VEDA publications F-6: Diagnostic Tests for Vestibular Problems, and E-8: Common Misconceptions about ENG (Electronystagmography).
What is vestibular rehabilitation?
Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise approach to the remediation of disequilibrium and dizziness symptoms associated with peripheral vestibular pathology. A common neuro-otological approach to managing the dizzy patient with balance problems is to administer medication designed to suppress vestibular function. However, many of the medications used for inner ear disorders have the disadvantage of potential habituation and sedating side effects that frequently limit the patient's ability to perform useful activities.
Vestibular rehabilitation is an alternative form of treatment involving specific exercises designed to
(1) Decrease dizziness
(2) Increase balance function
(3) Increase general activity levels.
The exercise program is designed to promote central nervous system compensation for the inner ear deficits. Patients are asked to exercise daily at home and to visit the physical therapist or occupational therapist during an initial period of four to six weeks.
Which patients need therapy?
Not all patients who have an inner ear disorder need vestibular rehabilitation. Patients who do not demonstrate a spontaneous resolution of symptoms such as dizziness and disequilibrium within six months of their onset may benefit from therapy. In these patients, the central nervous system seems unable to adequately compensate for the inner ear deficit.
Many patients have undergone a period of medical management using medications to suppress vestibular function and reduce symptoms, with little or no success. Symptoms become chronic, often lasting for periods of months or years. These patients with unresolved inner ear disorders may significantly improve their symptoms following vestibular rehabilitation.
Another type of patient who may benefit from vestibular rehabilitation is the one with acute or abrupt loss of vestibular function. Patients who have surgery for unresolved vestibular problems will benefit from a vestibular rehabilitation program designed to help the patient effectively compensate for his or her inner ear disorder.
Is a physician's referral needed to enter therapy?
Vestibular rehabilitation programs are designed to remediate vertigo and disequilibrium associated with peripheral vestibular abnormalities. There are many causes of dizziness, not all the result of vestibular deficits. Therefore it is critical that patients entering a therapy program have a confirmed diagnosis of vestibular pathology. Most referrals will come from otolaryngologists or neurologists. If there is some question about the nature of the underlying disorder in patients who are referred from other sources, an otology consult may be requested by the treating therapist.
Note: the questions and answers above about vestibular rehabilitation come from VEDA Publication F-7, Vestibular Rehabilitation, by Anne Shumway-Cook, PhD, RPT. This publication and others may be ordered from VEDA’s online store.
Where do I find health specialists who diagnose and treat vestibular disorders?
Your physician can recommend a specialist. VEDA can also provide contact information for specialists through its Resource Lists (provider directory) of health professionals who offer diagnosis and treatment, including vestibular rehabilitation services. This directory is organized by geographic region and includes physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists, psychologists, and others. The lists also include contact information for support groups. View and/or print one or more Resource Lists.
How can I order publications?
Publications may be ordered through VEDA’s online store or by printing out an order form and sending it with payment to VEDA.
How do I determine which publication(s) to order?
VEDA's online store has a short description of the contents of each publication.
Can I order back issues of the newsletter, On the Level, if I'm not a member?
Members have the priviledge of ordering all available back issues of On the Level because their membership dues support the research, writing, editing, and publishing of the newsletter. Non members may only purchase back issues of On the Level that are more than two years old. See the index of back issues of On the Level.
Can I order back issues of the newsletter, On the Level, if I'm not a member?
Members have the priviledge of ordering all available back issues of On the Level because their membership dues support the research, writing, editing, and publishing of the newsletter. Non members may only purchase back issues of On the Level that are more than two years old. See the index of back issues of On the Level.
Can you mail a list of publications and membership options to a friend/family member who does not have Internet access?
Yes. To request that we mail a printed membership brochure and a complete list of publication titles (books, short publications, and video/DVD), contact us by toll-free voice-mail, mail, e-mail, or fax and specify that you would like a brochure and list of publications sent to the address you provide. Please be sure to provide the complete name, address, zip code, and country (if outside the U.S.). It is often helpful to also provide a phone number and e-mail (if available) to help us reach you or the addressee in the event that we have difficulty sending material to the address provided.
Can I make duplicate copies of your publications to distribute?
VEDA's publications are protected under copyright and may not be duplicated. The sales of our copyrighted documents help fund our nonprofit organization's operations. This, in turn, helps us keep the price of our programs, services, and publications low. At the same time, we want to provide information to those who need it. This is why we offer deep bulk-quantity discounts on our explanatory documents for anyone who wishes to distribute them. (See the online store.) We can also provide free of charge to clinics, bundles of brochures about the low-cost information VEDA has available for purchase. Thank you for respecting our operations and our copyright.
Can I download information that I see on the Web site?
VEDA allows a person to make a single copy of the information contained in this Web site solely for personal, non-commercial use, as long as VEDA and its Web site are cited on the copy as the source, and its copyright notice is included with the document.
I live outside of the U.S. and would like to order VEDA's videotape. Will it work on my VCR?
Many video players purchased outside of the United States require what is called a "PAL" format video as opposed to the U.S. "VHS" video. If you do need the PAL version, you have 3 choices: (1) You can buy the VHS video from us and have it converted to a PAL version at a film processor near you. In this case, you must inquire about the cost of the conversion with your local film processor. (2) Or we can convert a videotape for you here. This would add a $15.00 conversion fee to the cost of the videotape and shipping/handling costs. (3) A non-video choice is to order our DVD of the same film footage. DVD players don't usually have the same conversion complications as VCR players.
What type of payment do you accept?
VEDA accepts the following forms of payment for products and services: Credit Cards and Check Cards: We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, and check cards that are connected with one of the major credit card companies listed above. These can be used in our online store or by printing an order form and sending it to us by mail or fax with the charge card number, expiration date, and billing address of the card. Checks: We accept checks for mail-in orders. To pay by check, please print out an order form and mail it to us.
Can I order in non-US currencies?
VEDA accepts payment by check in U.S. funds (U.S. Dollars, USD) and through verified credit card payments with international credit cards.
There was a problem with my credit card bill; what should I do?
For billing questions, please contact VEDA by e-mail or by phone at (800)-837-8428.
Can I place an order and have you send me an invoice for payment?
We require prepayment for all memberships and products except for publications purchased in bulk quantities by qualified hospitals or clinics. Contact VEDA at (800) 837-8428 for further information.
What is VEDA’s returns/refund policy?
If the correct product was ordered initially and the product received is incorrect, please call our toll-free voice-mail (800-837-8428) system with your name and a brief description of the error. VEDA will return your call with instructions about a replacement.
All sales of membership subscriptions and publications are final. In the event that a publication is damaged upon receipt, customer must contact VEDA within 3 days of receipt of the product by e-mail or by using our toll-free voice-mail (800-837-8428). No return will be authorized after 3 days. Credit to your credit card account will be applied only after the product has been received, inspected, and compared with the original order. VEDA is not liable for your product lost in shipping to our dock, or the condition of the product upon its arrival. Product damaged in transit between customer and VEDA will be discarded without credit. VEDA is not responsible to credit the customer if there is no means of identification submitted with the product return.
Do you refund shipping charges?
We refund shipping charges if (1) we ship an incorrect product, or (2) if we ship a broken or defective product. If we re-ship a product in these cases, we do not add another shipping charge.
Do you offer special discounts to non-profit organizations?
VEDA offers a 15% discount off books purchased by qualified non-profit organizations and educational institutions for quantities of 10 more of the same title. (Please contact 800-837-8428 for more information.)
Will I receive a discount if I order several copies of the same publication?
Bulk-discount pricing is available for bundles of 25 or more of a single title for short publications. Please see the bulk-discount price schedule in our online store or on our printable order form.
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