A blind patient reports being unable to maintain balance adequately enough to walk across a room. The patient has no history of motor deficits, but is currently being treated for a serious ear infection. While the infection is responding to treatment, there is still considerable inflammation. The patient is reassured that once the ear infection subsides, balance should also return to normal. What is the source of the above blind patient's balance problems, and how is the patient's blindness relevant to the recently developed motor problems?
