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Vertigo-associated disorders - Symptom

Symptoms:

The primary symptom is a sensation that you or the room is moving or spinning. With central vertigo, there are usually other symptoms from the condition causing the vertigo. Symptoms can include:

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

The spinning sensation may cause nausea and vomiting in some people.

Signs and tests:

A physical exam may reveal:

Eye movement problems, 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
EEG
Electronystagmography
Head CT
Lumbar puncture
MRI scan of head and MRA scan of blood vessels of the brain

Tympanic membrane

Reviewed last on: 10/30/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Baloh RW. Hearing and equilibrium. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 454.

Bauer CA, Jenkins HA. Otologic symptoms and syndromes. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al., eds. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2005; chap 126.

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