I know Halloween is actually a few weeks away, but I work in the tourism industry and Halloween festivities are already gearing up in my world. There are some things to keep in mind if you are partaking in any spooky festivities this fall.

Before I forget- unrelated to vestibular/balance issues- always bring your ear plugs for your Halloween/ Haunted events. They can be loud and you want to be prepared with ear protection.

Most people who have a vestibular schwannoma/ acoustic neuroma lose the function of their vestibular (balance) nerve. This affects you in a myriad of ways, some obvious and some less so. I am going to cover some difficulties that can crop up around Halloween events.

When planning a costume, keep in mind that compromising your eyesight can make it a lot harder for balance. You may want to skip a full face mask or other costume that will dim the world. If you plan to be out and about in the dark bring a light source so if you are having a harder time with navigating the darkness you are prepared.

Keep in mind that uneven ground is tougher for balance. A lot of autumn events (corn maze, pumpkin patch, Haunted Houses) are in places that are not level. Participating in those events can challenge your balance. If you struggle with balance, I would really recommend doing the first two in daylight and not participating in evening or night events as that will make balance significantly harder. Haunted Houses you may not be able to add light but consider holding a hand or even bringing a walking stick or cane along.

Strobe lights are a common Halloween effect. Since my brain surgery, I cannot handle strobe lights at all. It completely overwhelms my vestibular system and I feel extremely nauseous and cannot walk. If you plan to go to a haunt or something likely to use a strobe, have a buddy plan and close and cover your eyes and have them lead you through that section. Otherwise, you can often inform Haunt staff and they usually have a work around where they can walk you a different path to avoid the strobe light area.

On the topic of haunted houses, there is a particular feature that often comes up in haunts that straight up messes with brains missing a balance nerve. It’s called a vortex tunnel. It has walls with lines and it spins, making a person with two balance nerves feel uneven or dizzy. It made me feel completely unable to move. Again I recommend closing your eyes and using the hand rail or having someone lead you through the space (or ask a staff to lead you around it).

I am not going to lie- I am a fan of the extension of the Halloween season. There are a lot of great activities and joy to be found in fall events. I just recommend a little planning to help you be as successful as possible, and that way, you can hopefully enjoy escorting the kiddos trick or treating.