International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Otolaryngology

Vertigo, imbalance, and dizziness are reported with a 1-year prevalence in the adult population of 48.3%, 39.1%, and 35.6% respectively. Falls in the elderly represent 2.8 million emergency departments visits each year. Reportedly, 5-8% of children will experience vertigo in the general population. These statistics exemplify a significant public health issue with significant implications across populations. There is universal agreement that any investigation for reported vertigo, imbalance, and dizziness begins with a thorough medical evaluation. Regardless of the patient population or presenting symptoms it is imperative to first determine if any acute or chronic underlying medical conditions exist. This is, of course, not a simple task as the sheer number of possible pathologies resulting in vertigo, dizziness, and imbalance is daunting.