Auditory System Tutorial

Question 1

What is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)?

Answer 1

BPPV is a peripheral disorder where the otoliths (carbon crystals) from the utricle, detach from the maculae and float around the semi-circular canals

Question 2

Where is the result of these. misplaced otoliths?

Answer 2

• Otoliths are not supposed to be found in the canals
• Therefore when these are floating in the canals, will induce a bigger endolymph flow when the head moves (the crystals will carry more liquid)
• Therefore the movement of the head would be processed by the brain as bigger and faster than it is in reality
• Cause vertigo every time the head moves quickly, especially when lying down or standing up

Question 3

Why are the attacks short?

Answer 3

• because these will end when the endolymph settles (usually less than 1 min)
• but will be recurrent, happening every time the person changes the head position quickly (as said before, very common on lying down or getting up from bed)
• When the head is still, usually there are no vertigo symptoms, but some patients can refer feeling a bit unstable or lightheaded when walking (no specific deficit though)

Question 4

How can you get rid of the disorder?

Answer 4

epositioning manoeuvres such as Epley or Semont

Question 5

Are there hearing deficets with BBPV?

Answer 5

1. only affects the semi-circular canals and not in a permanent manner
2. No hearing deficits are associated with this particular disorder, so any problem with hearing will not have been triggered by, or during, the period of this disorder (if a person has a hearing loss as the patient of this case, they will refer to hearing loss, but it is clearly not related to the vestibular event).