Vestibular disorders: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Vestibular disorders

Sample item

A patient has recurrent attacks of vertigo lasting hours, with fluctuating low-frequency hearing loss, tinnitus and a feeling of fullness in the ear. What is the likely diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Ménière's disease

Ménière's disease is characterised by endolymphatic hydrops. The triad of episodic vertigo, tinnitus and fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, with aural fullness, is typical.

Option by option

  • A. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

    BPPV gives brief vertigo triggered by head position, without hearing loss.

  • B. Ménière's disease (correct)

    Correct.

  • C. Acoustic neuroma

    An acoustic neuroma gives progressive unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, not episodic vertigo.

  • D. Vestibular neuritis

    Vestibular neuritis is a single prolonged vertigo episode without hearing loss.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, Ménière's disease. Ménière's disease is characterised by endolymphatic hydrops.

Why is "Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo" not the answer?

BPPV gives brief vertigo triggered by head position, without hearing loss.

Why is "Acoustic neuroma" not the answer?

An acoustic neuroma gives progressive unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, not episodic vertigo.

Why is "Vestibular neuritis" not the answer?

Vestibular neuritis is a single prolonged vertigo episode without hearing loss.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vestibular disorders in ENT. The triad of episodic vertigo, tinnitus and fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, with aural fullness, is typical.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Vestibular disorders?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.