How Is Vertigo Diagnosed?
In order to diagnose vertigo, doctors usually carry out a physical examination, ask questions about the symptoms, and refer patients for certain tests to confirm the diagnosis. These include:
- Fukuda-Unterberger test: You will be asked to march in place for 30 seconds with your eyes closed to see if you rotate or lean to one side.
- Romberg’s test: You will be asked to stand with your feet together, arms to the side, and eyes closed to check if you feel unbalanced in this position.
- Head impulse test: The medical specialist will gently move your head to each side, asking you to stay focused on a fixed object. This will reveal if your inner ear balance system is working to help control your eye movements while you are moving your head.
- Vestibular test battery: This is a combination of tests to help identify a problem with your inner ear, based on monitoring eye movement responses.
Sometimes CT (computer tomography) scans or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can be used to verify the diagnosis. [6]
How is Vertigo Treated?
Treatment for vertigo will depend on the condition that’s causing it. Sometimes it goes away without any treatment, because the brain adapts to inner ear changes by using other mechanisms to maintain balance. [8]
In other cases treatment is required.
BPPV, which is the most frequent cause of vertigo, can be managed with an exercise known as the Epley maneuver. It represents a series of movements aimed at returning the crystals that control balance to their proper place in the inner ear. Although short-term effects can include nausea and dizziness, this exercise has been proved both safe and effective. [5]
With vestibular neuronitis, Meniere’s disease, or labyrinthitis, anti-inflammatory drugs can alleviate the symptoms. Meniere’s disease can also be managed by changing your diet.
Some conditions, such as perilymph fistula or SSCDS, require surgical intervention to correct problems in the inner ear.
Other conditions may be chronic and incurable. In this case, they will require a combination of balance exercises, healthy lifestyle changes and medication to control vertigo. Motion sickness medicine can help ease nausea.
With migraines, you’ll be prescribed medication to help reduce stress.
For chronic, ongoing conditions like multiple sclerosis, stroke, or tumors, treatment may consist of managing the symptoms on a more serious level. [4]
