Diagnosis of Vertigo

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Your GP will diagnose vertigo from a description of the symptoms. An examination of your ears, eye movements and nervous system may be necessary to find out the cause.

If your vertigo is severe or ongoing, it may be necessary to conduct more specific tests. Your GP can carry out some tests in the surgery, such as a provocation test. This involves putting your head in certain positions to bring on the dizziness, and is used to diagnose benign positional vertigo. Another simple test is to stand still and close your eyes. If your balance is affected, it may indicate a middle ear problem.

Your GP may conduct a caloric test, in which air at different temperatures is blown into the ear to check that the inner ear is working correctly. If arthritis of the neck is suspected, your neck may be X-rayed. If you also have tinnitus, you may be advised to have a CT or MRI scan of the brain to rule out a brain tumour.