Differential Diagnosis Demystified: Dizziness, Tinnitus, and Hearing Loss Explained

In this episode of Talk Dizzy to Me, vestibular physical therapists Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS and Dr. Dani Tolman, PT are joined by Dr. Ben Shaw, a London-based consultant audiovestibular physician specializing in dizziness, vertigo, balance disorders, tinnitus, and hearing loss.Dr. Shaw explains how he evaluates patients with vague, recurrent, or chronic dizziness and why understanding the timing, triggers, and associated symptoms is essential for reaching the correct diagnosis.The conversation discusses various vestibular conditions, including Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), vestibular migraine, Ménière’s disease, vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (3PD/PPPD), and Cerebellar Ataxia, Neuropathy, and Vestibular Areflexia Syndrome (CANVAS).The episode also includes an in-depth discussion of tinnitus. Dr. Shaw explains why tinnitus is a symptom rather than a diagnosis and presents a holistic approach to tinnitus management.Hosted by:🎤 Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS🎤 Dr. Danielle Tolman, PTFor episode recommendations or requests, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Partnered with:→ Our online program and community, The Dizzy Reset™, ⁠⁠⁠use code TALKDIZZYTOME for 40% off your first payment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Avulux glasses, use code DIZZYRESET for $25 off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Just Ingredients, use code TALKDIZZYTOME for 5% off⁠⁠⁠Connect with Us:→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book a free call with us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get free resources straight to your inbox⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our online program and community, The Dizzy Reset™⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch podcast episodes (and more) on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a review!This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts.Time Stamps00:15 Meet Dr. Ben Shaw 01:34 Audiovestibular medicine explained02:53 Evaluating dizziness06:12 The vestibular examination07:59 When additional testing is needed08:55 Central red flags10:23 Vestibular migraine and PPPD11:49 Vestibular neuritis12:19 Ménière’s disease13:44 Neuritis vs. labyrinthitis16:04 Understanding tinnitus18:27 Managing tinnitus20:46 CBT, mindfulness, and habituation22:39 Tinnitus red flags23:07 Sudden hearing loss24:28 Pulsatile and unilateral tinnitus25:28 Complex dizziness cases25:58 CANVAS syndrome27:53 Vestibular migraine and anxiety case29:21 Treating migraine before vestibular rehab31:19 Advice for clinicians34:41 What patients should know about vertigo36:04 Vestibular suppressant medications37:03 Preventing vestibular migraine37:56 Connect with Dr. Ben Shaw39:21 Closing thoughts