Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Background:
Signs and Symptoms:
Other symptoms include:
Diagnosis:
Dix-Hallpike maneuver is performed to look for nystagmus and eye beating (Hornibrook, 2011).
Treatment:
Special Tests:
- BPPV results from calcium carbonate debris that becomes dislodged from the otoconial membrane and enters into a semicircular canal (Kerber, 2009). This can result in feelings of vertigo, nausea, and dizziness, and are normally brought on by changes in head or body position. Symptoms are most commonly experienced when tilting the head back such as looking up or laying down, leading to the nickname of "top-shelf vertigo."
Signs and Symptoms:
- The cardinal symptom is sudden vertigo induced from a change in head position (Hornibrook, 2009).
Other symptoms include:
- Inconsistent positional symptoms
- Frequent positional attacks with disequilibrium in-between
- Vertigo provoked by most head movements (most commonly tilting the head back)
- An impression of continuous vertigo
- Symptoms can last for days, weeks, months, or years
Diagnosis:
Dix-Hallpike maneuver is performed to look for nystagmus and eye beating (Hornibrook, 2011).
- Posterior canal can be ruled in if up-beating nystagmus is noted with a rotational component (Kerber, 2009).
- Anterior canal can be ruled in if down-beating nystagmus is noted with a rotational component (Kerber, 2009).
- Horizontal canal can be ruled in if there is horizontal nystagmus (Kerber, 2009).
- The horizontal roll test is performed to verify horizontal canal involvement.
- Canalolistiasis will result in nystagmus lasting less than 60 seconds.
- Cupulisthiasis will result in nystagmus lasting more than 60 seconds.
Treatment:
- Epley Maneuver (see treatment tab)
- Semont Maneuver (see treatment tab)
- Vestibular Rehabilitation (see treatment tab)
Special Tests:
- Dix-Hallpike Maneuver (see special tests tab)
- Horizontal Roll Test (see special tests tab)