Neurological Balance and Medical Disorders
Authored by: The DrSensory Editorial Team
Reviewed by: 🛡️ DrSensory Clinical Review Board
Last updated: June 2026
Key Takeaways
- BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is one of the most common causes of vertigo, occurring when tiny calcium carbonate crystals dislodge in the inner ear and disrupt the body's balance system.
- Although BPPV is more common in older adults, it can occur at any age, including in children, especially following head trauma or inner ear disorders.
- BPPV symptoms are triggered by changes in head position, usually last seconds to minutes, and can include spinning, dizziness when lying down or rolling over, nausea, and balance problems.
- Physical therapy is the first-line treatment for BPPV, with repositioning maneuvers like the Epley often bringing relief immediately or within 1 to 3 sessions.
- BPPV can return, recurring in up to 50% of cases within five years, but regular follow-ups and vestibular therapy may reduce recurrence and help manage flare-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can children get BPPV?
Yes. While BPPV is more common in older adults and rare in very young children, it can occur at any age, particularly after concussions, head trauma, or vestibular dysfunction. Pediatric cases are often misdiagnosed or underrecognized.
What are the signs of BPPV in my child?
Symptoms are triggered by head position changes and may include sudden spinning when turning the head, dizziness when lying down or looking up, feeling off-balance, nausea or vomiting, involuntary eye movements, complaints that the room is spinning, avoidance of certain head movements, and frequent falls. Episodes usually last seconds to minutes.
How is BPPV diagnosed?
Diagnosis is clinical and can be done by a trained physical therapist, ENT, or neurologist using positional tests such as the Dix-Hallpike maneuver and the Roll Test. Reproducing symptoms during these maneuvers, along with nystagmus (involuntary eye movements), confirms BPPV.
How is BPPV treated?
Physical therapy is the first-line treatment. Therapists trained in vestibular rehabilitation use safe, non-invasive repositioning maneuvers such as the Epley, Semont, Brandt-Daroff exercises, and BBQ Roll to guide the displaced crystals out of the inner ear, with relief often immediate or within 1 to 3 sessions.
Will BPPV come back after treatment?
It can. BPPV recurs in up to 50% of cases within five years. Triggers for recurrence include stress, inactivity, sudden head movements, and underlying vestibular conditions, but regular follow-ups and vestibular therapy may reduce recurrence.
