What Tests Are Done to Check for Vertigo?

When patients come to our vertigo clinic in Boise, ID, they often look for answers about their condition. Most of them have minimal knowledge about vertigo and only know something is wrong because of the unusual spinning sensation they experience.

This blog article is here to educate you about vertigo, including its origin, the tests used to help you get a proper diagnosis, and a natural treatment that can help you manage your symptoms or eliminate it altogether. 

Vertigo Meaning

Vertigo is the sensation that you or the things around you are spinning even when there’s no movement at all. The feeling can happen whether you're sitting, lying down, or standing. This false sense of motion is among the leading medical complaints. Vertigo has two classifications:

• Subjective Vertigo — the sensation that you are moving
• Objective Vertigo — the feeling that the things around you are moving

Types of Vertigo Based on Origin

Vertigo has two known forms: peripheral vertigo and central vertigo.

• Peripheral: Vertigo that result from a problem within the inner ear or the vestibular nerve, which controls the body’s balance. 
• Central: Vertigo that stems from a problem with the brain, brainstem, or the central nervous system. The brainstem coordinates movements and helps keep our balance.

Vertigo Symptoms

The feeling of vertigo can be compared to motion sickness or a sensation that your world is spinning. You may feel off-balance. Vertigo may last for minutes to hours, and symptoms can either be chronic or episodic. Some of its symptoms are the following: 

• Abnormal headaches
• Visual disturbances
• Stumbling while trying to walk
• Decreased consciousness
• Abnormal eye movements
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Weakness
• Trouble speaking
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus -- ringing in the ears

Causes of Vertigo 

Vertigo is often a symptom of an underlying health condition such as the following:

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)

This is the most common type of vertigo and occurs due to the moving of calcium crystals in the wrong part of the inner ear. Moving your head in a certain position, like when you roll over in bed, can trigger a vertigo attack which can last from 15 seconds to a few minutes.

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and vertigo download our complimentary e-book

---

Labyrinthitis

The bony area that houses the inner ear is called the labyrinth. Labyrinthitis occurs when bacteria enter the inner ear, causing infection and inflammation of the labyrinth. Besides vertigo, its symptoms include tinnitus (ringing in the ear), nystagmus (abnormal jerking of the eye), loss of hearing, nausea, and vomiting.

Vestibular neuritis 

The vestibular nerve is a branch of the vestibulocochlear nerve. It helps control the body’s balance by coordinating signals between the brain and the inner ear. Virus causes the inflammation of the nerve, resulting in vertigo and its related symptoms.

Meniere’s disease

This is a disorder of the inner ear that also involves vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. It can be related to viral infections, allergies, a head injury, or inherited genes. Those with Meniere’s experience unexpected vertigo attacks and hearing loss that comes and goes, with periods of no symptoms at all in between.

Changes in hormones during pregnancy

Pregnant women may feel the sensation of vertigo when they have low blood sugar.

A migraine

It is a severe form of a headache and can also bring about vertigo.

Acute peripheral vestibulopathy (APV)

This disorder occurs when there is inflammation of the inner ear resulting in a sudden onset of vertigo.

Perilymphatic fistula

It is the abnormal communication between the middle and inner ear. 

Acoustic neuroma

This is connected to a tumor of the nerve tissue of the inner ear. Although it rarely causes vertigo, it can come with hearing loss and ringing in one ear. 

Otosclerosis

The abnormal growth of bone in the middle ear. 

Cholesteatoma erosion

When a cyst in the inner ear causes erosion, vertigo can be the end result. 

Multiple sclerosis

The vertigo attack is often sudden and may involve the inability of the eyes to move past the midline toward the nose. 

Diabetes

Complications from diabetes can result in hardening of the arteries, which can cause a reduction in blood flow to the brain. 

Anxiety or panic attacks

It is a possible reason for vertigo. Stress can worsen the symptoms, but not cause them.

Other conditions

Head trauma and neck injury, stroke, or a tumor in the cerebellum can also cause vertigo.

Tests Used to Diagnose Vertigo

To confirm if you have vertigo, your doctor may first order an MRI or CT scan to study your brain.  After the initial assessment, your doctor may also use one of these tests:

Dix-Hallpike test

While sitting on the exam table, you’re quickly lowered so you are lying down with your head slightly to the left or right. This is done to examine your eye movements to learn more about your vertigo.

Head-Thrust test

While looking at your doctor’s nose, the doctor will suddenly move his or her head to the side to see if you have correct eye movement.

Fukuda-Unterberger test

The doctor will ask you to march in place with your eyes closed and will observe whether you begin to lean from side to side. 

Romberg test

Standing with your feet together and eyes open, you will be requested to close your eyes to see if you can keep your balance.

A Natural, Scientific-Based Treatment for Vertigo 

Vertigo often occurs as a result of a misaligned vertebra in the upper cervical spine. The atlas (C1) and axis (C2) are vulnerable to misalignment due to several things such as but not limited to sports injuries, whiplash type injuries, car accidents, or even simple slips and falls. 

The C1 and C2 vertebrae protect the brainstem, so when a misalignment occurs, it can put pressure on the brainstem. This can result in interference to signals to and from the brain regarding the body’s position in its surroundings. When this happens, vertigo can ensue. 

At Upper Cervical Health Center Boise in Idaho, we can locate and determine the nature and degree of the problem in the neck by utilizing precision imaging and measurement of your unique anatomical structures. We correct misalignment by applying a precise and gentle method that does not result in any popping or cracking in the neck or spine. Many of our patients see improvements in their vertigo symptoms within a relatively short period of time. ​ 

​​To schedule a consultation with Dr. Blom click the button below or call 208-559-0541