Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, or BPPV, is one of the most common causes of true vertigo. People with BPPV typically describe sudden, spinning dizziness — either feeling like they are spinning or that the room is spinning — that is triggered by changes in head or body position. Episodes often happen when turning in bed, bending down, looking up, or getting up too quickly. The spinning sensation may be accompanied by nausea, imbalance, or sometimes headaches. Even though the vertigo feels intense, each episode usually lasts less than a minute.
BPPV occurs when tiny calcium carbonate crystals (often called “ear crystals”) become dislodged from their normal location and move into one of the inner ear’s semicircular canals. These canals help regulate balance and head movement. When the crystals shift abnormally, they send false motion signals to the brain, creating the spinning sensation. Although BPPV can be frightening and disruptive, the good news is that it is rarely serious and is highly treatable with specific repositioning techniques.
At AudioSense, we diagnose BPPV using a gold-standard bedside test called the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, along with additional positional screening when needed. Once we confirm which canal is affected, we treat the condition with targeted repositioning procedures designed to guide the crystals back to where they belong. Your audiologist is trained in several evidence-based maneuvers, including the Epley, Semont, Gufoni, and Brandt-Daroff techniques. These treatments are safe, effective, and often resolve symptoms quickly. Many patients experience major improvement after just one session, though some require two or three treatments depending on the canal involved and how long the symptoms have been present.
Because treatment can temporarily provoke dizziness during or shortly after the maneuver, we recommend bringing someone with you to your appointment so you can get home safely and comfortably. We’ll also provide clear guidance on what to expect afterward and how to reduce recurrence risk when appropriate.If your dizziness feels positional — brief, spinning, and triggered by movement — BPPV is a strong possibility, and it’s one of the fastest vestibular conditions to improve with the right care.
If you’re dealing with sudden spinning dizziness when you move your head or change positions, you don’t have to wait it out. AudioSense Toronto offers expert BPPV assessment and in-clinic repositioning maneuvers that can often resolve vertigo in just a few visits.
Book your BPPV assessment today and let us help you return to steady, confident movement — quickly and safely.
