Common Peripheral and Central Vestibular Disorders Flashcards
What are peripheral vestibular disorders, include disorders of = ?
- vestibular apparatus
- CN VIII
What are general characteristics of peripheral vestibular disorders?
Recurring periods of vertigo, nausea, diminished hearing, pressure in the ears, and tinnitus.
What is the direction of nystagmus in peripheral vestibular disorders?
Fixed direction, beating toward the more neurally intact ear.
What is Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction (UVH)?
A condition where one side of the vestibular system is not functioning properly.
What is Vestibular Neuritis?
Inflammation of the vestibular nerve, usually caused by a virus such as herpes simplex or herpes zoster.
- Symptoms start as a “vestibularcrisis”
- Hearing is unaffected
What is the most common cause of peripheral vertigo?
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).
What is Labyrinthitis?
Inflammation or infection of the labyrinth that can be viral or bacterial, involving both the cochlea and vestibular apparatus.
- Cochlea is also involved
What differentiates Labyrinthitis from Vestibular Neuritis?
- Labyrinthitis involves hearing changes and tinnitus
- Vestibular Neuritis does not affect hearing.
What are common clinical signs of UVH?
- spontaneous nystagmus
- (+) head impulse test
- abnormal DVAT
- abnormal mCTSIB
What does a positive head impulse test indicate in UVH?
Ipsilesional vestibular hypofunction.
What is the treatment for Vestibular Neuritis and Labyrinthitis?
Prognosis = ?
- Medical management with anti-dizzy and anti-nausea medications, steroids, and vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT).
- Most patients compensate and can return to full function within 1-8 weeks, though some may have chronic symptoms.
What is Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction (BVH)?
A condition where both sides of the vestibular system are either partially or completely nonfunctional.
What is the most common cause of BVH?
Ototoxicity, often due to drugs like aminoglycosides.
What are clinical signs of BVH?
Positive head impulse test bilaterally, large decline in DVAT, severe imbalance, and gait ataxia.
What is the treatment for BVH?
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy focusing on gaze stability and balance, along with safety education and compensatory strategies.
What is Meniere’s Disease?
- A chronic progressive disorder of the inner ear causing vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss.
- Abnormal amount of endolymph in the inner ear leading to swelling and damage within the labyrinth.
What are the characteristic symptoms of Meniere’s Disease?
- Recurrent vertigo
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss
What is the medical management for Meniere’s Disease?
Low sodium diet, diuretics, steroids, and surgery to reduce or prevent fluid buildup.
What is Vestibular Schwannoma?
A benign tumor arising from the Schwann cell of CN VIII, often slow-growing.
- Common symptoms = Unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and imbalance.
What is the treatment for Vestibular Schwannoma?
Conservative management with watchful waiting, surgical excision, or gamma knife radiation.
What is Cervicogenic Dizziness (CGD)?
CGD: Dizziness or imbalance arising from pathology of the cervical spine or surrounding soft tissues.
- Common symptoms = Dizziness, floating sensation, disorientation, imbalance, neck pain, and occipital headache.
What are central vestibular disorders?
Disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) affecting vestibular function.
What are the ‘D’s’ associated with central vestibular disorders?
- Dysarthria
- Diplopia
- Dysphagia
- Dysmetria
What are common causes of central vestibular disorders?
Vestibular migraine, Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD), Arnold-Chiari Malformation, Vertebrobasilar Artery Insufficiency (VBI), stroke, and tumors.
What is Vestibular Migraine?
A common neurological cause of vertigo in adults, often associated with migraine headaches.
- Common symptoms = Recurrent vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, fatigue, nausea, motion sickness, light/sound sensitivity, tinnitus.
What is Arnold-Chiari Malformation?
A congenital condition where part of the cerebellum descends past the foramen magnum.
What are the symptoms of Arnold-Chiari Malformation?
Suboccipital headache, neck pain, unsteady gait, dizziness, oscillopsia, problems with hand coordination, diplopia, dysphagia.
What are the differences between central and peripheral vestibular pathologies in terms of oculomotor testing?
Central vestibular pathologies often have abnormal smooth pursuits and saccades, while these are usually normal in peripheral pathologies.
What are the differences between central and peripheral vestibular pathologies in terms of vertigo intensity?
- Central pathologies may have mild vertigo or none at all
- Peripheral pathologies usually cause intense vertigo
What is Presbyvestibulopathy?
Age-related functional decline of the vestibular system, leading to dizziness, imbalance, or gait disturbance.
What are the implications of Presbyvestibulopathy in elderly patients?
Increased likelihood and severity of falls, diminished quality of life, and independence.
What is Multifactorial Vestibular Disorder?
A condition where multiple factors, including CNS and peripheral vestibular involvement, contribute to vestibular dysfunction.
What role does the vestibular system play in Parkinson’s disease?
Patients with Parkinson’s often have chronic vestibular hypofunction and are more prone to BPPV.
How is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) related to vestibular dysfunction?
MS can cause central lesions or affect CN VIII, leading to vestibular symptoms.
What conditions might cause light-headedness?
Orthostatic hypotension, hypoglycemia, anxiety, panic disorder, cardiac dysfunction, VBI, polypharmacy.
What vestibular conditions might cause dysequilibrium?
Bilateral vestibular loss, chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction, peripheral neuropathy, cerebellar/motor pathway involvement, LE weakness.
What are some key symptoms of vestibular dysfunction?
Vertigo, tinnitus, pressure in the ears, difficulty concentrating, feeling disoriented, difficulty watching moving objects, blurred vision with movement.
What is lateropulsion?
A tendency to lose balance laterally, often leaning or falling toward the side of vestibular weakness.
What balance tests can be used in a vestibular examination?
Modified CTSIB, Romberg, Sharpened Romberg, Single leg stance, 4 Square Step Test, Functional Reach Test, Fukuda Stepping Test.
What is the Modified CTSIB test?
A test that evaluates balance by assessing a patient’s ability to maintain stability in different sensory conditions.
What is the Fukuda Stepping Test used for?
To assess vestibular weakness by monitoring body rotation while the patient steps in place with eyes closed.
What does a rotation greater than 30 degrees during the Fukuda Stepping Test suggest?
Possible vestibular weakness.
What does the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) assess?
The ability to modify gait during various walking tasks.
What does a positive Dix-Hallpike test indicate?
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).