Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (bppv)

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Vertigo is a false sensation of spinning. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo. It develops as a result of an inner ear problem.

BPPV can usually be resolved with a treatment(s) that we can perform in our office called the canalith repositioning treatment.

The vestibular labyrinth lies within your inner ear and is the sensory system that makes you aware of head rotation and movement, also detecting the pull of gravity.

This system is important because it allows you to keep your eyes looking straight ahead and have stable vision as you move your head and your body.

Within the vestibular labyrinth are structures called otolith organs that monitor the movement and position of your head. Otolith organs contain tiny calcium carbonate crystals that lie embedded in a membrane attached to nerve cells.

If, for example, you roll over in bed, the crystals stimulate the nerve cells, sending impulses to your brain telling you that that your head is moving. BPPV most commonly occurs when you move your head in a certain direction, lie down, roll over in bed or sit ...
... up. Moving your head to look up or down also can cause BPPV symptoms.

Usually, the symptoms last for 20-30 seconds and disappear after you stop moving because they settle down.When BPPV occurs, the crystals dislodge from the otolith organs and float into another area of the vestibular labyrinth called the semicircular canals.

These loop-shaped structures contain fluid and hair-like sensors that monitor the rotation of your head. The crystals incorrectly stimulate the semicircular canals when you move your head in certain positions.

That stimulation sends signals to your brain that indicate your head is rotating in ways that it is not. These signals also generate eye movements called nystagmus. The crystals moving around in the semicircular canals causes you to experience an internal sensation of spinning, and because your eyes are jerking back and forth (nystagmus) you feel the world is spinning around you.BPPV results in vertigo, dizziness and balance problems.

BPPV occurs most often in people age 60 and older, suggesting that aging may be a factor in BPPV development. BPPV may occur after a blow to the head. In many people, no specific cause for BPPV can be found.

BPPV may go away on its own. In these situations, the crystals may float back to where they are supposed to be, or they may be reabsorbed into vestibular labyrinth fluid. If BPPV doesn't resolve by itself, evaluation and treatment in our office can be scheduled.

The Canalith Repositioning Procedure is often the choice of treatment for BPPV which involves a series of head movements. The goal is to move the crystals out of the semicircular canals and back into the otolith organs. The Canalith repositioning procedure consists of several slow, simple maneuvers for positioning a patient's head.

Each position is held for about 30 seconds after BPPV symptoms or abnormal eye movements cease.After the procedure, the patient is asked to avoid lying flat (sleep with head elevated at 45 degree angle), not sleep on the affected side and to limit head movement for 48 hours to allow time for the crystals to settle back into the correct area of the vestibular labyrinth and be reabsorbed by the inner ear fluid.

The canalith repositioning procedure is usually effective after one or two treatments.Sometimes patients who continue to have symptoms are instructed on how to perform the repositioning procedure on their own.

Triangle Hearing Services is a hearing aids cary, nc who has licensed audiologist cary to hear earing problems, pain in the ear, tinnitus/noises in ear, dizziness or vertigo.