Clinical ENT/Dizziness

Question 1

What are 3 dominant senses essential to balance

Answer 1

Vestibular
- semicircular canals, utricle and saccule

Visual
- saccadic systems

Somatosensory
- joint pressure and proprioception

Question 2

Where can lesions that are associated to dizziness be found

Answer 2

Anywhere in the peripheral or CNS

Anywhere in the musculoskeletal system

Anywhere within the ear and eyes

Question 3

What aspects of dizziness needs to be determined to help determine the cause?

Answer 3

• The cardinal event (when did this occur and what were you doing if possible)
• the duration of dizziness
• the severity of dizziness
• the frequency of dizziness

Question 4

What does direction-fixed positional nystagmus usually indicative of?

Answer 4

A peripheral lesion in the equilibrium pathway

direction fixed means the nystagmus observed occurs no matter how the head is positioned. If it changes based on positioning, could be central or peripheral

Question 5

What is the indication of sustained vs periodical/ reversible nystagmus

Answer 5

Sustained = central lesions/issues

Periodical/ reversible = peripheral lesions/issues

Question 6

How is nystagmus named?

Answer 6

For the quick component of nystagmus

Question 7

What is a downbeat nystagmus usually indicative of?

Answer 7

Cerebellar disorders

Question 8

Difference between unilateral o and bilateral saccade

Answer 8

Unilateral saccade = lags towards the affected ear

Bilateral saccade = lags toward either ear