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Understanding dizziness and vertigo

Balance and Dizziness · ENT Health Library

Balance & Dizziness
Understanding dizziness and vertigo

Dizziness is not one thing

‘Dizziness’ means different things to different people — light-headedness, unsteadiness, or the spinning sensation doctors call vertigo. Describing exactly what you feel, and when, helps a specialist narrow down the cause.

Common inner-ear causes

Many cases of true vertigo come from the balance organs of the inner ear. Conditions such as BPPV (brief spinning triggered by head movement), vestibular neuritis and Ménière's disease each have recognisable patterns an ENT specialist can identify.

When to seek care

Book an assessment for recurrent or severe vertigo, vertigo with hearing loss or ringing, or unsteadiness that affects daily life. Seek urgent care for dizziness with sudden severe headache, weakness, slurred speech, double vision or fainting, as these need immediate attention.

This article is general information, not medical advice. For a diagnosis and a plan tailored to you, please book a consultation with our specialists.
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