Straightening out vertigo

Abstract

The arrival of a dizzy patient is often a heart-sinking moment for most physicians, regardless of specialty. The problem is twofold: first, the patient’s history of events is often inconsistent, vague and bizarre, and second, balance disorders are often ‘black-boxed’ by doctors as either too complicated to understand or as just not making sense. The aim of this article is to draw attention to the power of good communication skills and carefully honed questions in managing patients with balance disorders.