In today’s lesson, we discuss the vestibular system in Spanish. This is the second free lesson in our Spanish for Vertigo series.  

The first free lesson in this series introduces Spanish for the evaluation of vertigo. In our member lessons, the physical therapist obtains a complete history regarding the patient's vertigo. She asks about the situations in which the vertigo occurs, the duration, associated symptoms, potential provocative factors and the patient's medications.

In this second free lesson introducing Spanish for the treatment of positional vertigo, the physical therapist explains that she thinks the patient's vertigo is caused by a problem in her vestibular system. 

Access member lessons: Physical Therapy in Spanish

LEVEL - UPPER INTERMEDIATE

3:07

After performing the oculomotor examination to rule out central lesions, the physical therapist explains that she thinks the patient’s dizziness comes from a problem in the vestibular system.

T: OK, parece que los mareos que está experimentando son por causa de un problema en su sistema vestibular.

P: ¿Qué es eso?

T: El sistema vestibular se encuentra en el oído interno detrás del tímpano. El sistema vestibular le indica la posición de su cabeza. Voy a hacer algunas pruebas en las cuales voy a poner su cabeza en diferentes posiciones para comprobar lo que le está pasando.

P: Me suena bien. Me gustaría saber lo que me está causando los mareos.

3:49

T: OK, parece que los mareos que está experimentando son por causa de un problema en su sistema vestibular.

los mareos / el mareo
dizziness

ser por causa de
to be caused by

el sistema vestibular
vestibular system

Los mareos son por causa de un problema en su sistema vestibular
The dizziness is caused by a problem in your vestibular system

experimentar
to experience

los mareos que está experimentando
the dizziness you are experiencing

Parece que los mareos que está experimentando son por causa de un problema en su sistema vestibular.
It appears that the dizziness you are experiencing is caused by a problem in your vestibular system.

6:00

P: ¿Qué es eso?

T: El sistema vestibular se encuentra en el oído interno detrás del tímpano. El sistema vestibular le indica la posición de su cabeza.

¿Qué es eso?
What is that?

We use QUÉ when asking about the definition of something. Learn when to use QUÉ vs CUÁL in questions with the verb SER.

el oído interno
inner ear

detrás de
behind

el tímpano
eardrum, tympanic membrane

encontrarse
to be / to find oneself (in a certain state or location)

El sistema vestibular se encuentra en el oído interno detrás del tímpano.
The vestibular system is located in the inner ear behind the eardrum.

indicar
to indicate, to tell, to show

la posición
position

la cabeza
head

El sistema vestibular le indica la posición de su cabeza.
The vestibular system tells you the position of your head.

el cerebro
brain

El sistema vestibular le indica al cerebro la posición de la cabeza.
The vestibular system tells the brain the position of the head.

Members can listen to the rest of this lesson here.  

¡Bien hecho! In the member lessons covering the treatment of positional vertigo

• In VT06 The Vestibular System: We practice more phrases to explain the function of the vestibular system.
• In VT07 Preparing the Patient: We prepare the patient for the somewhat uncomfortable Dix-Hallpike maneuver.
• In VT08 The Dix-Hallpike Maneuver: We perform the Dix-Hallpike maneuver to diagnose positional vertigo.
• In VT09 The Epley Maneuver: We perform the Epley maneuver to treat positional vertigo.
• Finally, in VT10 Crystals Break Free and You Get Dizzy: We explain how the patient's vertigo is caused by tiny crystals in the inner ear that have detached from the wall of the patient's vestibular system
• In VT11 How the Epley Maneuver Works: We explain that the Epley maneuver works by moving these crystals back into place.  

We will be back soon. Sonja Um Siri, a Spanish interpreter and my good friend, is working with her Spanish teacher, Francisco González Yojcóm on a series of lessons covering Spanish for Dentistry. And Eliza and I are putting together a lesson that will help us explain in Spanish the very rare Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome associated with the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines against Covid. The full lessons will be available to our members and we will be sure to share some useful Spanish from these lessons in the free podcast. Gracias por escuchar, y un gran abrazo a todos nuestros miembros. Since we do not run ads, the production of this podcast is funded solely through our memberships. You keep this podcast going! 

Special thanks to Brigette Schwimmer, the doctor of physical therapy who wrote the original dialogue for this lesson and to Elizabet Cortez, my Spanish teacher at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala, who helped me to rewrite and record this dialogue in Spanish. 

The lessons offered at docmolly.com are a fun way to practice medical Spanish. They are not intended to teach medicine or provide medical advice. These lessons are intended to improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients, but they are not intended to substitute for a qualified medical interpreter.

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