2021 Course. November 3rd, 10th, and 17th.

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This year sees a return to face-to-face teaching for three sessions. We will be studying the balance system, diseases of balance, history taking, and examination over the three weeks.

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Session 1.

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Prior to this session you should have read topics 1 and 2 below. These will introduce the fundamentals. In class you will have an assessment via Kahoot! and we will have a chance to discuss areas of difficulty while we do that.

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Following the Kahoot! we will discuss vestibular history taking, emphasising the need to focus on 'timings, triggers, and associations'.

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Post-sessional work.

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Following the session you will be divided into 5 groups. Each group will prepare a short summary of a balance disorder for the following teaching session on 10th November.

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The diseases to be presented are shown here together with some resources to use to make your presentation:

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Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

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AAO-HNS Guidelines for the management of BPPV. (There is a lot of really useful information in there. Focus on the posterior canal BPPV information)

Wikipedia page. Really good wiki coverage.

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Ménière's Disease

Classifying MD.

Wikipedia page.   

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Vestibular Neuritis and labyrinthitis

General information from VEDA.

Dizziness and Balance website.

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Persistent postural-perceptive dizziness (PPPD)

British Medical Journal article

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Stroke affecting the anterior inferior cerebellar artery

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Session 2.

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We will review the concept of vestibular failure and compensation, how is happens, and what we can do to enhance it. This will be via a Kahoot! and discussion.

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Student pairs will present their work on balance diseases. 10 minutes maximum. Each presentation must include a summary of the typical findings from history taking. 'Timings, triggers, and associations'. They must also include diagnostic tests / exams, and management.

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Post-sessional work.

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Do the vestibular cases test. Click on the link to be taken to a short test on case histories.

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Read up on nystagmus, Alexander's law, the vestibulo-ocular reflex and Dix-Hallpike and Epley manoeuvres.

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Dix-Hallpike.

Epley manoeuvre.

Nystagmus.

Head impulse testing for VOR.

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Session 3. 

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This is a practical session during which we will learn examination skills commonly used in the assessment of a dizzy patient. These will include such things as the assessment of nystagmus and Alexander's law, the VOR, Dix-Hallpike testing, and the Epley manoeuvre.