The Treatment and Diagnosis of Vestibular Migraine

Abstract

Based on recent research on vestibular migraine (VM), we describe the characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of VM, and also the disorders commonly associated with this condition. While the concept of VM has come to be known worldwide since the International Classification of Headache disorders (ICHD) defined the diagnostic criteria for VM in 2012, VM is still often not accurately diagnosed. Headache is the fourth most strong physical symptom in patients with chronic vertigo, and the type and duration of vertigo vary greatly in patients with VM. The Dizziness and Headache Diary is a useful tool for correct diagnosis of vertigo. It may be difficult to differentiate VM from Ménière’s disease (MD) as their clinical features are very similar. Vestibular function tests such as vestibular evoked muscle potentials (VEMP) and video head impulse test (V-HIT) could be useful to differentiate between these two conditions. VM is also seen in children and is now defined as vestibular migraine of childhood (VMC). It is one of the most common equilibrium disorders diagnosed in children.