The syndrome of paroxysmal positional vertigo. A review

Paroxysmal positional vertigo is one of the most common types of vertigo. When there are no other neurologic abnormalities and the vertigo occurs only with changes in head position and is associated with a direction-fixed fatiguing nystagmus that has a latency of onset and a brief duration, the term "syndrome of paroxysmal positional vertigo" applies. This syndrome is usually idiopathic and is rarely seen in association with central nervous system disease. The diagnosis usually can be made on the basis of a careful history and physical examination without costly laboratory procedures. Habituation training may be therapeutic.