Pen Bay Speech and Hearing Center

Dizziness is one of the most difficult complaints to assess because it is a subjective sensation that cannot be directly and objectively measured. Dizziness frequently represents many separate overlapping sensations that can be caused by a multitude of different pathophysiologic processes. 

Dizziness also is one of the most common patient complaints seen in ambulatory care today and therefore clinicians in almost all disciplines will be faced with evaluating this difficult problem.  

Evaluation and treatment of patients with dizziness will differ significantly once the category of dizziness has been determined. 

A vestibular disorder is described as a sensation of spinning and is accompanied by nystagmus that patients may report as a feeling that their eyes were rapidly snapping or jerking to and fro. This will relate to a sensation that the environment around them is moving. Patients with vestibular dysfunction may equate the feeling to a sensation of having motion sickness and describe feelings of imbalance, as though they were falling or leaning to one side.

Vertigo is often aggravated by head movements. This is often obvious in patients who complain of dizziness stimulated by specific situations such as driving in traffic or shopping in a busy supermarket. Other symptoms include nausea and vomiting or changes in auditory or neurologic skills.

The most enduring and commonly used test of vestibular function is the VNG. The latest technology utilizes infrared video cameras recording the movement of each eye.

Online resource: American Institute of Balance:
dizzy.com (new window)

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Updated: 2010-03-19