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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Diseases & Conditions

Find Out If You Have Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo - Take the Quiz

Ready to Uncover Your Vertigo Risks? Try the Inner Ear Dizziness Quiz!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art style inner ear and spinning swirl graphics for vertigo quiz on teal background

This BPPV quiz helps you check if positional vertigo could be behind your dizziness or room-spinning moments. Answer a few quick questions to spot common triggers and get simple tips for what to track or ask your doctor. If your pattern seems different, try the Meniere's disease quiz or migraine checker.

What does BPPV stand for?
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Benign Peripheral Posture Vestibulopathy
Basic Peripheral Postural Vertigo
Bilateral Paroxysmal Peripheral Vertigo
BPPV stands for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, a condition where brief episodes of vertigo occur with changes in head position. 'Benign' indicates it's not life-threatening, 'paroxysmal' means sudden, and 'positional' refers to head movements. The vertigo arises from dislodged otoconia in the inner ear. .
Which inner ear structure is primarily affected in BPPV?
Eustachian tube
Semicircular canals
Tympanic membrane
Cochlea
BPPV occurs when otoconia dislodge and enter the semicircular canals, disrupting normal fluid movement. This abnormal stimulation of hair cells leads to false signals of head rotation and vertigo. The cochlea handles hearing, not positional sensing. .
What triggers the characteristic vertigo in BPPV?
Loud noises
Bright lights
Changes in head position
Low blood sugar
In BPPV, vertigo is provoked by changes in head position because dislodged crystals move within the semicircular canals and stimulate hair cells. Loud noises and lights can trigger other vestibular issues but not BPPV. .
Which diagnostic maneuver is commonly used to confirm posterior canal BPPV?
Weber test
Rinne test
Dix - Hallpike maneuver
Romberg test
The Dix - Hallpike maneuver involves moving the patient's head to provoke vertigo and nystagmus, confirming posterior canal BPPV. The Romberg, Weber, and Rinne tests assess balance and hearing, not positional vertigo. .
What is the most common symptom experienced during a BPPV episode?
A spinning sensation
Ear fullness
Ringing in the ears
Hearing loss
The hallmark of BPPV is a brief, intense spinning sensation (vertigo) when the head moves in certain directions. Tinnitus, hearing loss, and ear fullness are more characteristic of other inner ear disorders. .
Which type of particles become dislodged in BPPV?
Perilymph
Otoconia
Cochlin granules
Endolymph
Otoconia are calcium carbonate crystals normally anchored in the utricle. When they dislodge and enter semicircular canals, they cause BPPV. Perilymph and endolymph are fluids, and cochlin granules are unrelated. .
Which semicircular canal is most commonly affected in BPPV?
Superior canal
Anterior canal
Posterior canal
Horizontal canal
The posterior semicircular canal is the most gravity-dependent and the most commonly affected site for otoconia accumulation. Horizontal and anterior canals are less frequently involved. .
What is the typical duration of vertigo episodes in BPPV?
All day
A few days
Less than one minute
Several hours
Vertigo in BPPV is usually brief, lasting less than a minute, as otoconia settle quickly after head movement stops. Longer durations suggest other vestibular disorders. .
Which treatment maneuver is first-line for posterior canal BPPV?
Semont maneuver
Foster maneuver
Lempert roll
Epley maneuver
The Epley maneuver is the most widely used repositioning technique to guide otoconia from the posterior canal back to the utricle. Semont is an alternative but not first-line. Lempert and Foster target horizontal canal. .
What distinguishes canalithiasis from cupulolithiasis in BPPV?
Left ear vs right ear
Free-floating particles vs attached particles
Anterior vs posterior canal
Otoconia vs endolymph fluid imbalance
In canalithiasis, dislodged otoconia float freely in the canal, causing transient vertigo. In cupulolithiasis, they adhere to the cupula, causing prolonged symptoms. The distinction guides treatment choice. .
Which finding on Dix - Hallpike indicates posterior canal BPPV?
Downbeat nystagmus only
Upbeat and torsional nystagmus
No nystagmus with vertigo
Pure horizontal nystagmus
Posterior canal BPPV shows an upbeat and torsional nystagmus toward the affected ear during Dix - Hallpike. Horizontal nystagmus suggests horizontal canal BPPV, and downbeat suggests anterior canal involvement. .
Which of these is a known risk factor for developing BPPV?
Chronic sinusitis
Head trauma
High blood pressure
Hyperthyroidism
Head trauma can dislodge otoconia from the utricle into the semicircular canals, triggering BPPV. Hypertension, thyroid issues, and sinusitis are not direct causes. .
What is the composition of otoconia involved in BPPV?
Protein clumps
Cholesterol deposits
Calcium carbonate crystals
Phosphate salts
Otoconia are tiny calcium carbonate crystals in the utricle that detect gravity. When they dislodge into the semicircular canals, they cause BPPV. They are not composed of proteins or lipids. .
Which age group is most commonly affected by idiopathic BPPV?
Adults 20 - 30 years
Adults over 60 years
Children under 10 years
Teenagers
Idiopathic BPPV incidence increases with age and most commonly affects adults over 60, likely due to degeneration of otolithic membranes. It is rare in children and young adults. .
Which positional test is used to diagnose horizontal canal BPPV?
Head impulse test
Dix - Hallpike maneuver
Roll (Pagnini-McClure) test
Unterberger's test
The roll or Pagnini-McClure test involves turning the head supine to each side to provoke horizontal canal BPPV nystagmus. Dix - Hallpike targets posterior canal. Head impulse and Unterberger's are different vestibular assessments. .
In horizontal canal BPPV with geotropic nystagmus, where are otoconia located?
Attached to the cupula
In the saccule only
In the utricle only
Free-floating in the canal lumen
Geotropic nystagmus in horizontal canal BPPV is due to canalithiasis, where otoconia are free-floating in the canal lumen. Cupulolithiasis (attached to the cupula) causes ageotropic nystagmus. .
Which maneuver is indicated for horizontal canal BPPV with geotropic nystagmus?
Semont maneuver
Lempert (barbecue roll)
Epley maneuver
Vogelschwend test
The Lempert or barbecue roll maneuver rotates the patient 360° to move free-floating debris out of the horizontal canal back to the vestibule. Epley and Semont target the posterior canal. .
Which cranial nerve carries vestibular signals from the inner ear to the brainstem?
Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Facial nerve (CN VII)
Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
The vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII) transmits auditory and vestibular information, including balance signals from the semicircular canals. Facial, trigeminal, and glossopharyngeal nerves serve other functions. .
What is the primary goal of the Epley maneuver in BPPV?
Drain excess endolymph
Reduce ear pressure
Strengthen vestibular muscles
Reposition otoconia back into the utricle
The Epley maneuver uses sequential head and body movements to guide otoconia through the semicircular canal and back into the utricle, relieving vertigo. It does not affect fluids or muscles directly. .
After successful Epley treatment, what precaution is often advised?
Take a hot bath immediately
Engage in strenuous exercise
Avoid lying flat for 24 hours
Perform headbanging exercises
Avoiding flat supine head positions for about 24 hours helps prevent otoconia from re-entering the canal after an Epley maneuver. Strenuous activity or hot baths have no proven benefit and may worsen symptoms. .
How does latency differ between canalithiasis and cupulolithiasis?
Equal latency for both types
No latency in canalithiasis; long latency in cupulolithiasis
Latency only in secondary BPPV
Short latency in canalithiasis; no latency in cupulolithiasis
Canalithiasis shows a brief latency before nystagmus onset due to particle movement, while cupulolithiasis often causes immediate nystagmus upon positioning because debris is fixed to the cupula. .
Which organ detects linear acceleration and contributes to balance alongside the semicircular canals?
Tympanic membrane
Eustachian tube
Cochlea
Utricle and saccule
The utricle and saccule are the otolithic organs that detect linear acceleration and gravity, complementing semicircular canals which detect rotation. The cochlea senses sound, not acceleration. .
Which maneuver is recommended for ageotropic horizontal canal BPPV?
Semont maneuver
Dix - Hallpike maneuver
Gufoni maneuver
Epley maneuver
The Gufoni maneuver is specifically designed to treat ageotropic horizontal canal BPPV by moving the patient rapidly from a seated position onto their side. Epley and Semont target posterior canal BPPV. .
Which secondary condition can mimic BPPV but often includes hearing loss and tinnitus?
Acoustic neuroma
Migraine-associated vertigo
Meniere's disease
Labyrinthitis
Meniere's disease presents with episodic vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fullness, which can mimic positional vertigo but has additional auditory symptoms. Labyrinthitis and acoustic neuroma have different profiles. .
How does the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) contribute to the nystagmus seen in BPPV?
It increases cochlear sensitivity during head turns
It suppresses all eye movements during vertigo
It generates compensatory eye movements when endolymph flow deflects hair cells
It relates to auditory reflexes only
The VOR produces rapid compensatory eye movements (nystagmus) opposite to head rotation when endolymph flow, triggered by displaced otoconia, deflects hair cells in semicircular canals. It ensures stable vision during head movement. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand common BPPV triggers -

    After completing the do i have vertigo quiz, you will learn how sudden head movements and inner-ear particle shifts contribute to positional vertigo.

  2. Identify key vertigo symptoms -

    You will be able to recognize hallmark signs in this vertigo symptoms quiz, such as spinning sensations, imbalance, and nausea, to better assess your dizziness.

  3. Evaluate inner ear health -

    By reviewing results from the BPPV assessment test, you can gauge the likelihood that your dizziness stems from inner-ear disturbances versus other causes.

  4. Differentiate dizziness causes -

    This inner ear dizziness quiz will teach you to distinguish between BPPV-induced vertigo and other forms of lightheadedness.

  5. Determine next steps for care -

    The positional vertigo test outcomes will guide you on when to try self-maneuvers or seek professional evaluation to manage your symptoms.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Otoconia Displacement Mechanism -

    BPPV occurs when calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) dislodge from the utricle and drift into the semicircular canals, causing abnormal fluid movement and brief spinning sensations with head turns. According to the Vestibular Disorders Association, this "rock in a water wheel" analogy can help you remember how tiny crystals disrupt your inner ear signals. This concept underpins many questions in a BPPV assessment test or inner ear dizziness quiz.

  2. Dix-Hallpike Maneuver Diagnostic Test -

    The Dix-Hallpike maneuver is the gold-standard positional vertigo test for posterior canal BPPV, involving a rapid shift from sitting to supine with the head turned 45° to one side. Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that a positive response is characterized by transient, torsional nystagmus within five seconds of the movement. You'll encounter this key step in any vertigo symptoms quiz or positional vertigo test.

  3. Epley Canalith Repositioning Maneuver (CRM) -

    The Epley maneuver repositions canaliths by guiding the head and torso through a series of precise angles: 45° head-turn, 90° roll onto the side, and 180° return to sitting. Using the "45-90-180" mnemonic makes it easier to recall each position during self-treatment. This maneuver is often featured when you take a do i have vertigo quiz and practice managing your symptoms.

  4. Differential Diagnosis with HINTS Exam -

    The HINTS exam (Head-Impulse, Nystagmus, Test-of-Skew) helps distinguish peripheral BPPV from central causes like cerebellar stroke; a normal head impulse plus direction-changing nystagmus suggests a central lesion. Mayo Clinic emphasizes mastering HINTS to know when vertigo warrants neuroimaging rather than canalith repositioning. Reviewing this exam sharpens your skills for a comprehensive BPPV assessment test.

  5. Red Flags and When to Seek Care -

    Be alert for sudden hearing loss, severe headache, or vertigo lasting longer than a minute - these may indicate central vestibular disorders rather than benign positional vertigo. The American Academy of Otolaryngology advises seeking prompt evaluation by an ENT specialist or audiologist if such warning signs arise. Note these red flags when using an inner ear dizziness quiz or taking a vertigo symptoms quiz to ensure timely medical attention.

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