Ataxia in common man words is basically imbalance in your gait when you are walking. You get a sensation of imbalance while walking. Chronic vertigo like Meniere’s disease or vestibular neonitis or any other serious causes of vertigo can give you a chronic sense of imbalance while walking. Whether we call it ataxia because ataxia is purely a neurological symptom which is seen mainly with brain disorders. So if vertigo is originating in the brain, then obviously he will have a definite ataxia. If it is originating from the ears, then you have a sense of imbalance, but your gait is more or less steady.it is not unsteady. You may have a sensation of imbalance, but your gait will be more or less steady. So if I really go by the technical term then ataxia is not the correct term to explain the general imbalance seen in chronic vertigo.
