Sudden vertigo is most commonly caused by BPPV — a displacement of small crystals in the inner ear. It can also result from vestibular neuritis, an inner ear infection, or in rarer cases, a central neurological cause. A proper clinical exam is the only way to determine the origin.

A repositioning maneuver (such as the Epley maneuver) is indicated when BPPV has been confirmed through a positional test. It should only be performed after a diagnosis — performing it without assessment can be ineffective or occasionally counterproductive.

Not always. Simple cases of BPPV can often be diagnosed and treated without additional testing. However, if your dizziness is persistent, unexplained, or accompanied by hearing changes, vestibular function tests help identify the exact cause and guide treatment.