Is the examination for otolithiasis painful?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on February 18, 2025
00:00
00:00

Patients with vestibular disorders may experience some discomfort during examination, primarily manifesting as recurrent dizziness. Some patients may also experience nausea and vomiting. However, examination can determine the specific location of the affected semicircular canal. Once the location is identified, targeted manual repositioning treatment can be administered. The preferred treatment currently is manual repositioning, which generally has an ideal therapeutic effect. Most patients show significant improvement after manual repositioning treatment, but there might be recurrent episodes of the condition. In case of recurrence, it is necessary to seek medical advice again and undergo repositioning treatment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
53sec home-news-image

How is otolithiasis diagnosed?

Otolith disease is a relatively common otolaryngological disorder, clinically known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. In terms of diagnosis, the first step is to observe clinical symptoms. Otolith disease typically manifests as brief episodes of dizziness, lasting about a few seconds, and is clearly related to changes in body or head position. If the head position is stabilized, the symptoms of dizziness usually disappear quickly, and there is no tinnitus or hearing loss. Additional diagnostic tests can also be conducted, such as positional testing or vestibular function tests. During positional testing, a certain position might trigger a brief episode of dizziness, which helps in identifying the specific semicircular canal involved. In terms of treatment, manual repositioning can be considered, and it is generally quite effective for most patients.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
51sec home-news-image

Can otolithiasis heal by itself?

Otolithiasis is a relatively common ENT disease, clinically known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The main clinical manifestation is vertigo related to changes in body position, but the duration of vertigo is relatively short. Generally, once the head position is stabilized, the vertigo symptoms quickly disappear, and there is no tinnitus or hearing loss. In terms of treatment, a small portion of patients can recover on their own, especially when the symptoms are not particularly noticeable and the condition is not particularly severe, allowing for possible self-recovery. However, if self-recovery is not possible or if clinical symptoms are more severe, timely manual repositioning treatment is recommended. After manual repositioning treatment, most patients can quickly recover and relieve their vertigo symptoms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 3sec home-news-image

Can young people get otolithiasis?

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) can occur in anyone, regardless of time or age. There are many causes of BPPV, which are generally related to staying up late, fatigue, poor rest, and high mental stress. It can suddenly cause dizziness, usually triggered when turning over or twisting the head. It is clinically known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. During an episode, patients may experience severe dizziness, along with severe nausea and vomiting, but there is no hearing loss or tinnitus. The duration of dizziness does not exceed one minute and often resolves on its own. If dizziness recurs, it is necessary to visit a hospital for detailed examinations like electronystagmography, caloric tests, and glycerol tests for diagnosis. For treatment, BPPV requires provocatory and repositioning maneuvers to gradually improve. Regular physical exercise can also help prevent recurrent episodes.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
59sec home-news-image

What should be noted about vertigo due to ear stones?

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common and frequently occurring disorder in the field of otolaryngology, primarily causing symptoms such as dizziness, a spinning sensation, nausea, and vomiting. When these symptoms of dizziness occur, it is important to timely find a sofa or bed to lie down or sit on to prevent falls and potential injuries. The episodes of BPPV usually last a short duration, often resolving within one to two minutes on their own. If the episodes are prolonged and recurrent, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly. Initial diagnostic evaluations such as MRI of the head and high-resolution CT of the temporal bone should be conducted to rule out inner ear disorders and intracranial tumors as possible causes of the vertigo. Once diagnosed, a specialist can perform repositioning maneuvers to treat BPPV, helping the patient return to normal.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
47sec home-news-image

Does otolithiasis require hospitalization?

Most patients with vestibular neuritis do not need hospitalization. Only in cases where the condition is particularly severe and has significantly impacted normal life, is hospitalization considered. The symptoms of vestibular neuritis are generally short-lived, with most patients experiencing transient vertigo related to changes in body position. When the body position is stabilized, the vertigo symptoms quickly alleviate. Therefore, outpatient treatment is generally considered, where a repositioning test can be conducted during the outpatient visit to identify the specific affected semicircular canal. Once identified, targeted manual repositioning treatment can be administered, with regular follow-ups needed to monitor the treatment effects.