Vestibular Neuritis

Exams and Tests

Vestibular neuritis is usually diagnosed from your symptoms of sudden vertigo, nausea, and vomiting with no hearing loss.

It is common for people to use the terms vertigo, dizziness, and lightheadedness to mean the same thing. But they are not the same, and it is important to be able to tell the doctor which one you are experiencing.

Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history and perform a physical exam to learn the cause of vertigo. The physical exam usually includes the Dix-Hallpike test, which will help your doctor find out whether your vertigo is triggered by certain head movements.

Additional tests may be done if the cause of vertigo is not clear. These tests may include:

• Electronystagmography, which involves attaching wires (electrodes) to the face to detect involuntary eye movements that occur when a person has vertigo.
• Imaging tests, such as an MRI.
• Hearing tests such as pure tone audiometry or auditory brain stem response testing.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: August 22, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Barrie J. Hurwitz, MD - Neurology
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