EXPERTS SAY IT'S AN UNDER-DIAGNOSED AND UNDER-TREATED PROBLEM -- VERTIGO MOST OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN TINY CRYSTALS IN THE INNER EAR COME LOOSE, GIVING THE BODY A FALSE SENSE OF MOVEMENT. FOR PEOPLE WITH THE CONDITION, SIMPLY TURNING OVER IN BED CAN THROW THE BODY'S INNER "GYROSCOPE" INTO A SPIN. NOW TWO NEW TREATMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO GET PEOPLE WITH VERTIGO … BACK IN BALANCE. TONIGHT'S HEALTHCAST EXPLAINS. IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO THROW THEIR WORLDS OFF-BALANCE. At times, standing in front of the shelf and looking from top to bottom would set me off." '"The room just spins and spins and spins. Even when your eyes are closed, you can feel the room spinning." FOR PEOPLE WITH VERTIGO, GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE CAN BE A DIZZYING EXPERIENCE. ("Go ahead and start out slowly there.") RESEARCHERS ARE TREATING THE BALANCE DISORDER BY FORCING PEOPLE TO FACE THEIR FEARS IN A VIRTUAL WORLD. ("There's the berry burst. Excellent. Find macaroni and cheese for me.") "It's similar to what some psychotherapists do for anxiety or panic disorder, that you expose somebody to more and more difficult situations." SIX WEEKS OF WHEELING THROUGH THE VIRTUAL STORE EASED DIZZINESS IN THE REAL WORLD FOR 75-PERCENT OF PATIENTS. "It's wonderful. It's like I got my life back." THIS "DIZZY CHAIR" MADE OF RECYCLED AIRCRAFT PARTS IS HELPING BETTY AUSTIN WITH HER VERTIGO. WHILE BETTY TIPS AND TURNS, SPECIAL GLASSES RECORD HER EYE MOVEMENTS. THOSE MOVEMENTS HELP DOCTORS LOCATE LOOSE CRYSTALS IN THE INNER EAR, A MAJOR CAUSE OF VERTIGO. "There is a certain maneuver or path that I can vector the patient along to reposition those crystals." WHEN THE CRYSTALS ARE MOVED BACK IN PLACE, THE VERTIGO STOPS. BETTY SAYS IT'S WORKING. "The treatment is incredible and how well it works and how good you afterwards." TWO UNIQUE WAYS THAT STOP THE SPINNING AND HELP PATIENTS LAND SECURELY ON THEIR FEET. DOCTORS SAY WHILE OTHER CONDITIONS AND MEDICATIONS CAN CAUSE DIZZINESS, TRUE VERTIGO HAPPENS WHEN PATIENTS BECOME DIZZY WHILE LYING DOWN.