Why Correct Diagnosis Matters
Here is a number that will surprise you. More than half the vertigo patients I see in Hardoi have been misdiagnosed before they reach me. Some have been told it is “cervical spondylosis.” Others were put on betahistine for months without a proper diagnosis. A few were told it is “just anxiety.”
Vertigo is not one disease. It is a symptom — and at least 8-10 different conditions cause it. The treatment for each one is completely different. That is why diagnosis comes first.
The Common Vertigo Conditions
These are the conditions I diagnose most frequently at Prime ENT Center:
Peripheral Causes (Inner Ear)
- BPPV (Ear Crystal Vertigo) — brief spinning with position changes. Most common cause. Curable in one visit.
- Vestibular Neuritis — sudden severe vertigo lasting days. Viral cause. Needs rehab exercises.
- Labyrinthitis — like neuritis but with hearing loss too.
- Meniere’s Disease — vertigo + hearing loss + ear ringing + fullness. Episodes last hours.
- Bilateral Vestibulopathy — when both ears fail. Rare but serious.
Central and Other Causes
- Vestibular Migraine — migraine that causes vertigo instead of headache. More common than people think.
- PPPD (Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness) — the anxiety-dizziness loop.
- Cervical Vertigo — The Misdiagnosis Trap — why neck X-rays mislead everyone.
Diagnostic Tests
I rely on specific bedside tests and equipment-based tests. Not guesswork, not MRI-first approach.
Bedside Tests (Done in OPD)
- Dix-Hallpike Test — the gold standard for posterior canal BPPV diagnosis
- Supine Roll Test — for horizontal canal BPPV
- HINTS Exam — tells vertigo from stroke in minutes
Equipment-Based Tests
- VNG Testing (Videonystagmography) — infrared eye tracking during vestibular testing. We are the only center in Central UP with VNG.
- Stabilometry — posturography for balance assessment. Also only at Prime ENT Center in this region.
When Do You Need an MRI?
- MRI for Vertigo — when a brain scan is actually needed and when it is a waste of money
- Vertigo or Stroke? — the 60-second HINTS test every family should know
BPPV vs Other Vertigo — How to Tell
- BPPV vs Vestibular Neuritis — seconds of spinning vs hours of dizziness
- Can Vestibular Neuritis Come Back? — recurrence patterns
Treatment Approaches
- BPPV Treatment — What I Do Differently
- Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy — evidence-based protocol
- Rehab After Vestibular Neuritis — specific exercises
- Betahistine for Vertigo — when it helps and when it does not
- The Vertigo Medication Trap — why pills often make it worse
Special Populations
- Vertigo in the Elderly — it is not normal aging
- Vertigo During Pregnancy
- All Causes of Dizziness — the full differential
Hindi Resources
- BPPV क्या है?
- वेस्टिबुलर न्यूराइटिस
- मेनियर्स रोग
- VNG जाँच क्या होती है?
- बुजुर्गों में चक्कर
- चक्कर में खान-पान
Book a Consultation
If you have been dealing with dizziness for more than a week — or if the vertigo keeps coming back — do not wait. I see patients at Prime ENT Center, Nagheta Road, Hardoi. Online consultations available for patients across India.
Call or WhatsApp: 7393062200
This page is written and maintained by Dr. Prateek Porwal, MS, DNB, CAMVD. ENT and Vertigo Specialist, Prime ENT Center, Hardoi, UP 241001.