Audiology - Positional Dizziness

Positional dizziness, known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (or BPPV) is a disorder that usually causes spinning dizziness with certain head movements. About 20% of all dizziness is due to BPPV, and approximately 50% of dizziness in older people is due to BPPV. It occurs when loose crystals collect in the wrong part of the inner ear and send false signals to the brain.

Movements that usually trigger this type of dizziness are lying down, sitting up, rolling over in bed and vertical head movements. The dizziness can clear up itself but if it doesn’t, a simple head manoeuvre called the Epley manoeuvre can be performed in the audiology clinic.

The Epley manoeuvre

The Epley manoeuvre involves moving the head into certain positions to allow the crystals to move out of the part of the ear that is causing the problem and then dissolve in the fluid inside the inner ear.

A video of the procedure is available at:

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/our-services or scan the QR code below - click on Audiology - Bury Community or Audiology - Oldham Community – click on Dizziness – see Exercise 16

After this has been done you will be advised to keep your head in an upright position for around twenty minutes. You might feel slightly unwell for a few days afterwards whilst the brain adjusts to the change. The manoeuvre may have to be repeated but is usually a very successful treatment for this condition.

Brandt-Daroff exercises

If the dizziness returns, you can perform Brandt-Daroff exercises at home to see if this relieves your symptoms.

These exercises are performed in three sets, each day for up to two weeks. Each set of exercises should be performed five times.

A video of the procedure is available at:

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/our-services - or scan the QR code below - click on Audiology - Bury Community or Audiology - Oldham Community – click on Dizziness – see Exercise 15

Contact Us

Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale
Audiology Department, Floor One, Nye Bevan House, Maclure Road, Rochdale, OL11 1DN

Bury
Audiology Department, Radcliffe Primary Care, 69 Church Street West, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 2SP
Telephone: 01706 674913
Fax: 02070 198251
Email: NESaudiology@nca.nhs.uk
Website: www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

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We are an accredited UKAS Service 8172 - in accordance with the UKAS schedule of accreditation that can be found at
https://www.ukas.com/wp-content/uploads/schedule_uploads/  00009/8172IQIPS-2.pdf

For further information see:

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/our-services - Audiology