Tuesday, February, 07, 2012

Vertigo-associated disorders

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Peripheral vertigo; Central vertigo


Symptoms

The primary symptom is a sensation that you or the room is moving or spinning. The spinning sensation may cause nausea and vomiting in some people.

Other symptoms can include:

  • Difficulty focusing the eyes
  • Dizziness
  • Hearing loss in one ear
  • Loss of balance
  • Ringing in the ears

If you have vertigo due to problems in the brain (central vertigo), you will usually other symptoms from the underlying conditions. They may include:

  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Double vision
  • Eye movement problems
  • Facial paralysis
  • Slurred speech
  • Weakness of the limbs

Signs and tests

A physical exam may reveal:

  • Eye movement problems or involuntary eye movements (nystagmus)
  • Lack of coordination and balance
  • Difficulty walking
  • Hearing loss
  • Weakness

Tests to determine the cause of vertigo may include:

  • Blood tests
  • Brainstem auditory evoked potential studies
  • Caloric stimulation
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG)
  • Electronystagmography
  • Head CT
  • Lumbar puncture
  • MRI scan of head and MRA scan of blood vessels of the brain

Review Date: 11/22/2010
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)