Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
Number of Conditions: 6
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Specialty: Ear
Category: Balance and Vestibular Disorders
Sub-category: Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
Symptoms:
brief episodes of dizziness; spinning sensation (vertigo); nausea; loss of balance; lightheadedness; symptoms triggered by head movements
Root Cause:
Displacement of calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) from the utricle into the semicircular canals, causing abnormal signaling to the brain during head movements.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Dix-Hallpike maneuver or supine roll test; observation of nystagmus during diagnostic maneuvers.
Treatment:
Canalith repositioning maneuvers (e.g., Epley or Semont maneuver), vestibular rehabilitation therapy.
Medications:
Medications are rarely used but may include vestibular suppressants like meclizine (an antihistamine) or diazepam (a benzodiazepine) to alleviate acute vertigo symptoms temporarily.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 0.5-2% of the population, more common in older adults.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Advanced age, head trauma, prolonged bed rest, inner ear disorders, osteoporosis.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally excellent; symptoms often resolve with repositioning maneuvers, though recurrence is common.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Increased risk of falls, anxiety related to vertigo episodes, potential for chronic dizziness in rare cases.
Meniere’s Disease
Specialty: Ear
Category: Balance and Vestibular Disorders
Sub-category: Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
Symptoms:
episodic vertigo; hearing loss (fluctuating); tinnitus (ringing in the ear); fullness or pressure in the affected ear; nausea and vomiting during episodes
Root Cause:
Abnormal fluid accumulation (endolymphatic hydrops) in the inner ear disrupts normal sensory signaling.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, audiometry (hearing tests), vestibular function tests, MRI to exclude other conditions.
Treatment:
Low-sodium diet, diuretics, vestibular suppressants during attacks, intratympanic steroid injections, or surgical options like endolymphatic sac decompression.
Medications:
Meclizine or diazepam to manage acute vertigo; betahistine (a histamine analog) to improve blood flow and reduce attacks; diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide to manage fluid retention.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 0.2-0.5% of the population, typically begins between ages 20 and 50.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history, autoimmune disorders, migraines, stress.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Chronic condition; symptoms can be managed, but hearing loss may become permanent over time.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Progressive hearing loss, chronic imbalance, emotional distress or anxiety.
Vestibular Neuritis
Specialty: Ear
Category: Balance and Vestibular Disorders
Sub-category: Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
Symptoms:
sudden onset of severe vertigo; nausea and vomiting; imbalance; oscillopsia (visual disturbance); no hearing loss or tinnitus
Root Cause:
Inflammation of the vestibular nerve, often due to a viral infection, leading to disrupted vestibular signaling.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical examination (e.g., head thrust test), absence of auditory symptoms, ruling out other causes like stroke.
Treatment:
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy, short-term use of vestibular suppressants, corticosteroids in some cases.
Medications:
Prednisone (a corticosteroid) for inflammation; meclizine or lorazepam for symptom relief; prochlorperazine for nausea.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated to account for 7% of patients presenting with vertigo.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Recent upper respiratory tract infections, immune system compromise.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good; most recover within weeks to months, though some may have residual imbalance.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Persistent dizziness, anxiety, risk of falls.
Labyrinthitis
Specialty: Ear
Category: Balance and Vestibular Disorders
Sub-category: Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
Symptoms:
vertigo; hearing loss; tinnitus; nausea; imbalance; difficulty focusing visually
Root Cause:
Inflammation of both the vestibular and cochlear components of the inner ear, often from viral or bacterial infections.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Audiometry, vestibular tests, clinical evaluation to rule out central causes like stroke.
Treatment:
Rest, vestibular rehabilitation, corticosteroids, antibiotics if bacterial infection is suspected.
Medications:
Prednisone for inflammation; amoxicillin or ceftriaxone for bacterial infections; meclizine or diazepam for acute symptoms.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Incidence is unclear; commonly occurs after viral infections.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Upper respiratory infections, middle ear infections, weakened immune system.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Often resolves completely, though hearing loss may be permanent in some cases.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic dizziness, permanent hearing loss, anxiety.
Perilymph Fistula
Specialty: Ear
Category: Balance and Vestibular Disorders
Sub-category: Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
Symptoms:
vertigo; imbalance; hearing loss; tinnitus; pressure changes exacerbating symptoms; nausea
Root Cause:
Abnormal communication between the middle ear and inner ear, causing leakage of perilymph fluid.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, vestibular testing, confirmation via exploratory surgery.
Treatment:
Rest, avoiding activities that increase intracranial pressure, surgical repair if conservative measures fail.
Medications:
None specific; symptomatic relief with meclizine or ondansetron for nausea.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; associated with head trauma or barotrauma.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Head injury, barotrauma, vigorous straining or heavy lifting.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with surgical intervention; untreated cases may lead to persistent symptoms.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Progressive hearing loss, chronic dizziness.
Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence (SSCD)
Specialty: Ear
Category: Balance and Vestibular Disorders
Sub-category: Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
Symptoms:
vertigo triggered by loud sounds (tullio phenomenon); imbalance; autophony (hearing one’s own voice loudly); hearing loss; pressure-induced vertigo
Root Cause:
Thinning or absence of bone over the superior semicircular canal, causing abnormal sound and pressure transmission.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
CT scan of the temporal bone, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) testing.
Treatment:
Avoiding triggers, surgical repair (canal plugging or resurfacing) for severe cases.
Medications:
No specific medications; symptomatic management with meclizine or diazepam for acute episodes.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated to affect 0.5-2% of the population, though many are asymptomatic.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Congenital thinning of bone, head trauma.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with surgical intervention; symptoms generally resolve or significantly improve.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic dizziness, impaired balance, difficulty performing daily activities.