DIZZINESS IN CHILDHOOD

There is a scant literature regarding vestibular evaluation of childre n with complaints of dizziness or vertigo. Considerable time and effor t are expended on the problem and prevention of hearing loss in childr en, yet we often ignore concurrent or subsequent vestibular disorders. This neglect could be due to several factors, perhaps the most common being the fact that vertiginous crises in childhood are often attribu ted to problems of behavior or incoordination. In this article, we off er an approach to the dizzy child based on presenting symptoms. We dis cuss features of the history, examination, and laboratory evaluation k ey to determining the cause of dizziness. Finally, we discuss manageme nt, which varies according to the diagnosis.