Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 24, 2025
Author Spotlight: Developing Low-Tech Balance Assessment Methods for Broad-Spectrum Healthcare Applications
Published on: September 1, 2023
The reliability of a subtype-determining questionnaire in efficient benign paroxysmal positional vertigo diagnosis in
Yichen Wan1, Yingxuan Li1, Jianjun Sun1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, China.
Introduction:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), the most common cause of dizziness, especially for older adults, exposes patients to the lethal risk of falling. However, the diagnosis of BPPV in this population can be more elusive as they present few characteristic symptoms. Therefore, we explored the application of a subtype-determining questionnaire in BPPV diagnosis among the geriatric population.
Methods:
Patients were assigned to the aware and unaware groups. In the aware group, the technician would directly test the suspected canal indicated by the questionnaire, whereas, in the unaware group, the technician performed the regular positional test. The diagnostic parameters of the questionnaire were examined.
Results:
The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of questions 1-3 for diagnosing BPPV were 75.8, 77.6, and 74.7%, respectively. Question 4 demonstrated an accuracy of 75.6% in ascertaining the BPPV subtype, question 5 showed an accuracy of 75.6% in determining the affected side, and question 6 yielded an accuracy of 87.5% in distinguishing canalithiasis or cupulolithiasis. Examination time was shorter in the aware group than that in the unaware group (P < 0.05). No difference was found between the two groups for treatment time (P = 0.153).
Conclusion:
This subtype-determining questionnaire is practical in daily use and capable of providing instructive information for an efficient diagnosis in geriatric patients with BPPV.
