Balance disorder is a medical condition that affects a person's ability to maintain stability while standing, walking, or sitting. There are many synonyms for the term "balance disorder" depending on the underlying cause and symptoms. Some of the commonly used synonyms are vestibular dysfunction, dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, gait disturbance, and disequilibrium. Vestibular dysfunction is often used to describe problems with the inner ear, while vertigo is used to describe a feeling of spinning or dizziness. Unsteadiness and gait disturbance refer to difficulties with walking, and unsteadiness may also be used to describe a general feeling of instability. Disequilibrium is a more generic term used to describe a loss of balance, but it doesn't necessarily indicate a specific cause.