Dizziness Depot

I recently read an article from the New York Times about individuals experiencing persistent dizziness symptoms after an earthquake. This is not something I have encountered at a clinical level, but I found it interesting. It seems unlikely that an earthquake would directly cause an organic issue with vestibular system without any physical trauma involved. It would, however, seem plausible

I am a “late career” audiologist that specializes in vestibular disorders. It is never boring, as each patient brings with them some mystery, some challenge. There is little that is more rewarding than solving that mystery in a patient that has given up hope after months or years of symptoms with prior incorrect diagnosis and ineffective treatments. On the other

Falls are the leading cause of injury related death in adults 65 or older. In the United States, around $50 billion is spent annually on medical care related to falls in older adults. Data from the World Health Organization estimates that more than 680,000 people die and 172 million suffer from falls related disabilities annually worldwide. Hearing loss is also

Vestibular disorders are amongst the most common causes for dizziness accounting for around 40% of all dizziness. In recent years it has become apparent that vestibular migraine is one of the most common vestibular disorders and may even be the most common cause of recurrent episodic spontaneous vertigo. There is not a diagnostic test for vestibular migraine and the diagnosis

Ménière’s disease continues to mystify even the most the most seasoned practitioners. If you put 10 specialists in a room, you will likely get 10 or more opinions about the cause and most effective treatments for Meniere’s disease (MD). In fact, one recent 2019 survey of patients with a diagnosis of MD found 24 different treatments, all with similar efficacy.1

Last month’s post focused on atypical causes of positional vertigo. This month’s post will be a change of pace and will consist of some general tips and tricks that we have found helpful in treating patients with BPPV. Some of the items covered may seem rudimentary to experienced practitioners but hopefully it will be informative to others. Correct positioning during

The majority of cases of positional vertigo are attributed to the condition of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). BPPV occurs when otoconia migrate into the semicircular canals of the inner ear, resulting in nystagmus and a sense of vertigo that occurs with head movement or position change. Most cases of BPPV impact the posterior semicircular and are readily treated with

In my last blog post, I reviewed the new GRACE 3 guideline for acute dizziness and vertigo in the emergency department. The first recommendation from that guideline was that Emergency Department (ED) physicians need training in bedside tests such as the HINTS protocol, the Dix-Hallpike test, and performing the Epley maneuver when applicable. I also suggested that those of us

There have been symptom reports consistent with Meniere’s disease for many years yet it still remains poorly understood. There is some suspicion that historical figures such as Julius Caesar, Martin Luther, and even Vincent Van Gogh may have had the condition.4 The condition was first theorized to be an inner ear condition by French physician Dr. Prosper Meniere in 1861.3

As audiologists providing both vestibular and hearing assessment, we evaluate individuals with a variety of hearing and/or dizziness related symptoms. We frequently encounter the same common diagnoses. For instance, a symmetric high frequency sensorineural (inner ear/auditory nerve) hearing loss is commonly encountered in a hearing evaluation and may be observed in older adult patients and/or those who have been exposed