Bengaluru: Vertigo and balance disorders are emerging as a significant yet under-recognised health concern in India, with clinicians observing that a large number of patients presenting with dizziness are either misdiagnosed or treated symptomatically without identifying the underlying cause.
Experts estimate that nearly 15 to 20 per cent of adults experience vertigo or dizziness every year, with prevalence peaking among those aged 55–64. Beyond causing discomfort, vertigo can significantly impair daily functioning, mobility and quality of life, particularly among older adults. In severe cases, untreated vertigo can increase the risk of falls, injuries and hospitalisation, while also masking serious neurological conditions such as stroke or inner ear disorders if not evaluated properly.
Despite its high occurrence, vertigo is often dismissed as a minor ailment, resulting in delays in diagnosis, prolonged discomfort and sometimes missed detection of serious neurological conditions. Specialists say the lack of structured clinical evaluation and limited awareness among both patients and frontline physicians contribute to inconsistent diagnosis and treatment pathways.
Against this backdrop, Apollo Hospitals brought together neurologists, ENT specialists and general physicians from India and abroad to highlight diagnostic gaps and improve clinical approaches to vertigo management.
The workshop focused on strengthening frontline clinical evaluation through hands-on, case-based sessions. Participants were guided on structured patient history-taking, bedside examination of vestibular and ocular motor systems, and systematic methods to identify the underlying causes of vertigo. The sessions also addressed the differentiation of peripheral, central and functional vertigo, conditions that often present with overlapping symptoms but require distinct treatment pathways.
Suryanarayana Sharma PM, Senior Consultant Neurologist and Stroke Specialist, Academic Advisor, Department of Neurology, said, “Vertigo affects a large population in India and requires a multidisciplinary approach. In India, more than 70 million people are suffering from vertigo. Though nearly 74 per cent of these cases are benign, recognising red flags and identifying serious neurological or ENT conditions is crucial. Vertigo clinics are increasingly important in the current context.”
Highlighting the importance of practical training for clinicians, Sunil Narayan Dutt, Senior Consultant and Clinical Advisor, Department of ENT, informed that physicians benefit from experience-led training formats. According to him, hands-on sessions and live case discussions help doctors build confidence in assessing patients with vertigo, particularly in busy clinical settings where time and resources are limited.
Providing an international perspective, Michael Strupp, a neurologist and globally recognised expert in vestibular disorders, led sessions on peripheral, central and functional vertigo. He noted that advances in vestibular medicine have made many vertigo conditions highly treatable but emphasised that early and accurate diagnosis remains critical. “The challenge today is not the lack of treatment but ensuring that the right diagnosis is made early through structured clinical evaluation,” he said.
Experts also observed that vertigo is increasingly being recognised in association with broader neurological and post-viral conditions, adding complexity to diagnosis and management. They emphasised that improving diagnostic precision at the first point of care is essential to avoid unnecessary investigations and ensure better patient outcomes.
