Deficits in vestibular function typically cause dizziness, loss of balance, and diminished functional independence and reflect a disturbance of the central vestibular pathways in the brain.

Central nervous system causes of vertigo (central vestibular disorders) include brain stem vascular disease, arteriovenous malformations, acoustic neuromas and tumors of the brain stem and cerebellum, multiple sclerosis, and vertebrobasilar migraine.

Vertigo is the cardinal symptom of vestibular disease. It is...