How to Use the Vertigo (BPPV) Risk Checker
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) happens when tiny calcium crystals that normally sit in the inner ear's balance organ shift out of place, triggering sudden vertigo whenever your head or body position changes β like lying down or sitting up. This checker takes whether your dizziness relates to position changes, how long one episode lasts, and whether hearing loss, tinnitus, or nausea accompany it, then shows how closely your pattern matches typical BPPV as a reference.
The defining features of BPPV are that episodes are usually brief (under a minute), ease once you hold still in one position, and rarely come with hearing loss or tinnitus. If your dizziness instead lasts hours, happens regardless of position, or comes with hearing changes, Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, or another cause becomes more likely and should be considered alongside BPPV. These pattern rules follow the BΓ‘rΓ‘ny Society diagnostic criteria for BPPV (von Brevern et al., 2015), which describe recurrent positional vertigo triggered by lying down or turning over in bed and lasting less than one minute. There is no validated self-scoring questionnaire for BPPV, so this checker shows a pattern rather than a score.
This result is only a reference-level pattern check and does not replace a medical diagnosis. An actual BPPV diagnosis can only be confirmed through a clinical exam such as the Dix-Hallpike test performed by a doctor. If dizziness comes with limb weakness, slurred speech, or a severe headache, that could signal a medical emergency such as a stroke β seek immediate medical care in that case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sudden, brief vertigo (usually under a minute) triggered by a change in head or body position, like lying down or sitting up, is the most characteristic sign. Hearing loss or tinnitus is usually absent.
Yes, it becomes less likely. Vertigo lasting hours, or accompanied by hearing loss or tinnitus, points more toward Meniere's disease or another cause β see an ENT or neurologist.
No. This tool is a reference-only pattern check. An actual BPPV diagnosis requires a clinical exam such as the Dix-Hallpike test performed by a doctor.