BPPV / Vertigo

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV for short), is an inner ear problem that affects a large number of people. This problem creates the false perception that the head or the room is spinning. This problem creates the false perception that the head or the room is spinning. This dizziness may occur when laying down, turning over in bed, looking up, standing up, quick head movements, etc.
For various reasons, BPPV can occur in one or both of the inner ears. Symptoms can occur intermittently or constantly, depending on the extent of the problem.

Treatment for BPPV involves no medications or surgeries and is performed in our office, with and 85% cure rate after one treatment. You no longer have to “live with it”!!!

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

How The System Should Work:
The primary role of the vestibular system (dizziness and balance control centers in each inner ear) is to tell the brain where the head is in reference to its environment. To perform this task, the inner ear uses its 3 semicircular canals.
The semicircular canals are filled with a gel-like fluid called endolymph. When the body moves or is moved, the fluid is set into motion. This signals the brain that motion is occurring, so it can respond as needed to accommodate the move.
Otoliths/Otoconia, or calcium carbonate crystals, that assist in sending gravity, normally rest in the utricle, at the base of the semicircular canals.

Click here to watch Dr. Katz explain this (Video Clip)

When Otoconia are displaced, they may float in the fluid of the semicircular canals. This condition sends mixed signals to the brain and causes the false sensation of motion.

That false sensation of motion creates the symptoms of vertigo.

Why does BPPV happen?

The question is a very good one, without a very specific answer. The medical community has determined that 39% of the time, the origin is unknown (idiopathic pathology) or from aging, 29% of BPPV patients have various ear diseases, and 21% of cases are from trauma. Less frequently, cases originate from Meniere’s disease, ear infections, central nervous system diseases, blood circulation problems, sudden sensorineural hearing losses, otosclerosis, vestibular neuritis, acoustic tumors, tec.
At our office, we regularly evaluate, diagnose, and successfully treat BPPV.

Evaluation:

To determine if BPPV exists, a series of diagnostic tests must be performed. The tests also rule out other extraneous variables that may be worsening the symptoms.
Dr. Katz first takes a thorough history of your symptoms and initially evaluates you. A detailed questionnaire assists greatly in this process.
Next, a thorough diagnostic testing battery (taking 1.5-2 hrs.) is performed by our licensed Audiologist.
The test battery includes: a test of middle ear function (Tympanometry), outer hair cell function (OAE), hearing (Audiometry), tone or acoustic reflex decay, specific vestibular testing (ENG), & neural studies of the auditory pathway (ABR and ECOG).

Diagnosis:

Next, Dr. Katz explains the test results with the patient. He then discusses treatment options to correspond with the findings, and makes specific recommendations to reduce or eliminate the symptoms. The treatment plan varies with the diagnosis.

What is the Treatment for BPPV?

Once BPPV is diagnosed, the main treatment for BPPV is the Epley Maneuver. This procedure (taking 15-20 minutes) is performed in our office by Dr. Katz. This quick maneuver, demonstrated below, uses gravity to successfully put the otoconia back into place. Nearly 85% of the time, this procedure cures the BPPV when done once.

Click here to watch Dr. Katz explain this (Video Clip)

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