Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common cause of vertigo, and among the most satisfying things we treat. Crystals in the inner ear move where they should not, so a change of head position sets the room spinning for under a minute. A repositioning manoeuvre resolves it for the majority of people, often in a single appointment.

Does this sound like you?

Most people have several of these, not all of them.

Brief, intense spinning triggered by rolling over, lying down or looking up
Episodes lasting under a minute and settling when still
Nausea alongside the spinning
Unsteadiness lingering between the episodes
No hearing loss or ringing — which if present points elsewhere

Why it happens

Displaced crystals in the inner ear, frequently with no identifiable trigger
Head injury, even a minor one
Prolonged time lying flat, such as after surgery or illness
Age-related change in the inner ear
Inner ear infection or inflammation

What we would do about it

Roughly in this order — each step waits for the one before it.

Positional testing to identify which ear and which canal is involved
A repositioning manoeuvre, which resolves the large majority
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises where unsteadiness persists
Balance and gaze stabilisation work
Advice on positions and driving through the settling period
Referral where the pattern suggests something other than BPPV

See a doctor first if

Your pain followed a significant injury
It is getting worse rather than settling
It comes with numbness, weakness or unexplained weight loss

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Symptoms overlap between conditions, so the right treatment depends on an assessment.

Frequently resolved in one appointment

If your dizziness is brief, spinning and triggered by head position, there is a good chance a single repositioning manoeuvre fixes it. It is worth getting tested.

Book a vertigo assessment Ask a question first

Or call us on 0403 907 587 — we see patients across Seaton.

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General information only, not advice about your own problem — nothing here replaces an assessment. Source: Vertigo on Physiopedia.

Vertigo and BPPV