Which statement best describes the classic features of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

Which statement best describes the classic features of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo?

• A. Vertigo lasting minutes to hours with hearing loss.
• B. Vertigo triggered by head movements and lasting several minutes.
• C. Head movement causes vertigo lasting hours.
• D. Recurrent episodes of brief vertigo in response to head movements, with no hearing loss.

Answer: (D)

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo shows up as short, sudden spells of spinning dizziness that are triggered by changes in head position—like rolling over in bed or tilting the head back. Each episode typically lasts only seconds to about a minute and tends to recur with similar head movements. A defining feature is that hearing is normal, without the ear symptoms that accompany other vestibular disorders. This pattern helps distinguish it from other causes. For example, vertigo with hearing loss suggests conditions like Menière disease, where episodes can last longer and are accompanied by fluctuating hearing changes. A persistent or long-lasting vertigo not specifically tied to head position would point toward different etiologies. In practice, a Dix-Hallpike maneuver is often used to reproduce the vertigo and elicit characteristic eye movements, confirming BPPV and guiding canalith repositioning treatment to move the displaced otoconia back to where they belong.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo shows up as short, sudden spells of spinning dizziness that are triggered by changes in head position—like rolling over in bed or tilting the head back. Each episode typically lasts only seconds to about a minute and tends to recur with similar head movements. A defining feature is that hearing is normal, without the ear symptoms that accompany other vestibular disorders.

This pattern helps distinguish it from other causes. For example, vertigo with hearing loss suggests conditions like Menière disease, where episodes can last longer and are accompanied by fluctuating hearing changes. A persistent or long-lasting vertigo not specifically tied to head position would point toward different etiologies. In practice, a Dix-Hallpike maneuver is often used to reproduce the vertigo and elicit characteristic eye movements, confirming BPPV and guiding canalith repositioning treatment to move the displaced otoconia back to where they belong.