Dizziness and the Otolaryngology Point of View

Sharmeen Sorathia; Yuri Agrawal; Michael C Schubert

doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2018.06.004

Dizziness and the Otolaryngology Point of View

Med Clin North Am. 2018 Nov;102(6):1001-1012. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2018.06.004. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Authors

Sharmeen Sorathia¹, Yuri Agrawal², Michael C Schubert³

Affiliations

¹ Ziauddin University College of Medicine, 4/B, Shahrah-e-Ghalib, Block 6, Clifton, Karachi 75600, Pakistan; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 North Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 North Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
³ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 North Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 601 North Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Electronic address: mschube1@jhmi.edu.

PMID: 30342604
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2018.06.004

Abstract

Dizziness can be due to pathology from multiple physiologic systems, the most common being vestibular. Dizziness may be categorized as vertigo, disequilibrium, lightheadedness, or oscillopsia. Vertigo is an illusion of motion often caused by asymmetrical vestibular input to the brainstem. To evaluate vertigo, it is essential to include the symptom's quality, timing, frequency, trigger, influence from positional changes, and other associations from the history. Oculomotor, otologic, balance testing, positional testing, and nystagmus testing are equally important components of the examination. Two of the most common diagnoses are readily treated with canalith repositioning maneuvers and vestibular rehabilitation exercises.

Keywords: Dizziness; Evaluation; Examination; History; Physical therapy; Vertigo; Vestibular tests.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Diagnosis, Differential
Dizziness / diagnosis
Humans
Medical History Taking / methods
Otolaryngology / organization & administration*
Physical Examination / methods
Postural Balance*
Primary Health Care / methods*
Syncope / diagnosis
Vertigo / diagnosis
Vestibular Diseases / diagnosis*