What is vertigo?

Vertigo is a sensation in which your environment is spinning in circles. It can make you feel dizzy and off balance. Vertigo is a symptom of many health conditions rather than a disease itself. But it can occur along with other symptoms. There are two types of vertigo: Peripheral and central vertigo.

Peripheral vertigo is due to a problem in the part of the inner ear that controls the balance. These areas are called the vestibular labyrinth or semi-circular canal. Benign peripheral positional vertigo (BPPV) may cause peripheral vertigo, the most common vertigo.

What is BPPV?

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo. It is a sudden sensation that a person is spinning or that the inside of the head is spinning. BPPV causes brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness. Specific changes in the position of the head usually trigger it. For example, it might occur when you tip your head up or down, lie down, turn over, or sit in bed. Although BPPV can be bothersome, it’s rarely serious except when it increases the chance of falls. BPPV is not a sign of a severe problem;

it usually disappears within a few days of the first episode. BPPV develops when calcium carbonate particles (Otoconia) enter your semi-circular canals. This is the inner ear structure that controls balance and becomes trapped. This otoconia may become loose due to injury, infection, or age. As your head position changes, the otoconia roll around a push on tiny hair within semi-circular canals. These hair-like structures called cilia help transmit information about balance to your brain. Vertigo develops when the rolling otoconia stimulates the cilia.

Can audiologists guide the management of BPPV?

The audiologist is a trained professional who will explain BPPV management to you. She will also suggest specific exercises to control your vertigo. These exercises involve placing your head in different positions to help reset the balance organ.