The Dizzy Brain Approach: A Simple Framework for Confident Dizziness Differentials
The Dizzy Brain Approach: A Simple Framework for Confident Dizziness Differentials
This course includes
The instructors
Overview
Dizziness ranks among the most frequent - and most frustrating - presentations in physiotherapy. Patients often struggle to describe what they're feeling, conditions overlap in ways that cloud the clinical picture, and busy caseloads leave little room for lengthy assessments.
In this course, I'll share a practical clinical framework designed to help you cut through the noise and zero in on a working differential within the first five minutes of seeing a dizzy patient. We'll explore how strategic questioning, symptom pattern recognition, and a targeted physical screen can guide you toward the right diagnosis faster - and help you determine whether to treat, monitor, or refer.
The emphasis is on thinking through the problem, not memorizing lists, with case scenarios that reflect the kinds of patients walking into your clinic every week.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
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Use a step-by-step framework to efficiently work through a dizziness differential in the first five minutes of assessment
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Match symptom profiles to commonly encountered vestibular diagnoses
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Distinguish between peripheral and central origins of dizziness
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Execute a targeted vestibular screen that supports sound clinical decision-making
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Recognize when to refer to a specialist, such as an ENT, neurologist, or neuro-optometrist
Audience
This course is designed for:
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Physiotherapists treating patients with dizziness or balance disorders
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Clinicians with an interest in vestibular rehabilitation, including those early in their vestibular learning journey
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Physiotherapists who frequently manage BPPV, concussion, vestibular hypofunction, migraine, or persistent dizziness
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Clinicians seeking greater confidence and efficiency in vestibular differential diagnosis
Advanced vestibular training is not a prerequisite, but the material will particularly resonate with those managing multifactorial and complex dizziness cases.
Registration & What’s Included
Registration includes:
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Access to the live webinar
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Live Q&A - bring your clinical questions
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Access to the recording
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Downloadable resource(s)/slides
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Certificate of completion
This course is free for Embodia Members. The registration fee for non-members is $20.
This session is part of the Let’s Talk Vestibular webinar series. You may register for individual sessions or enroll in the full series.
The instructors
PT, BHSc, MScPT, PhD (Candidate)
Sonia Vovan is a registered physiotherapist and vestibular therapist with over a decade of clinical expertise in concussion management and vestibular rehabilitation. She is currently pursuing her PhD at York University, focusing on sex differences in post-concussion recovery.
Sonia is passionate about education and mentorship, regularly teaching and training healthcare professionals in vestibular rehabilitation and concussion care. She serves as Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto's Department of Physical Therapy, where she teaches in the neurological unit and vestibular selective. She has delivered keynote presentations internationally and serves as an Executive Member of the Neurosciences Division of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Her expertise has been featured in CBC interviews and professional publications.
Material included in this course
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Course Materials
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Welcome and Slides
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Full presentation
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Summary, Exam, and Eval
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Summary and Key Insights
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Knowledge Check
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Course evaluation (required for US CEUs)
Patient education included in this course
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Understanding Dizziness: A Patient Guide
How can I get this course for free?
Embodia Membership gives you access to a wide range of evidence-based courses, clinical tools, and resources all in one place. As a member, this course (and many others) is included at no additional cost, helping you save time and money while staying up-to-date in your practice.
If you’re not yet a member, non-members can still access the course for a one-time fee. Joining Embodia unlocks this course plus hundreds of hours of additional education and clinical resources, making membership the most convenient and cost-effective way to continue learning.
You can learn more about membership options available on the Embodia membership pricing page.
Is a certificate of completion included with this course?
Once you have completed the course, a certificate of completion (including learning hours and course information) will be generated. You can download this certificate at any time. To learn more about course certificates on Embodia please visit this guide.
This can be used for continuing education credits, depending on your professional college or association. If this course has been approved for CEUs in specific jurisdictions, it will be noted on the course page and CEU information may be added to your course certificate. Please read this guide for more information.
Has this course been approved for CEUs (Continuing Education Units) for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants in the US?
Yes, Embodia is a rule-approved CE provider of the PT Board of Florida (# 50-54793), a licensed CE sponsor of physical therapy continuing education by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR #216.000415), an approved provider of continuing education by APTA Massachusetts, an approved provider of the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure & Supervision - Physical Therapy (#50-54793), and an approved provider of continuing education for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants in California (CA) by Redefine Health Education, a recognized approval agency of the Physical Therapy Board of CA.
Courses approved by other state boards in the following jurisdictions are likely accepted for licensure credit based on the state regulation:
AL | AK | AR | CO | CT | DE | GA | HI | ID | IL | IN | IA | KS | KY | ME | MA | MI | MO | MT | NE | NH | NC | ND | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | UT | VT | VA | VI | WA | WI | WY
Please reach out to your state licensing board to confirm. If you have a specific question about CEU approval for this course in your state, please direct your inquiry to info@redefinehealthed.com.
The following states are not pre-approved: AZ, DC, LA, MD, MN, MS, NM, NV, NY, NJ, OH, TX, WV
Participants licensed in states not pre-approved may file for individual approval using the instructions on this document.
US PTs and PTAs: How many CEUs has this course been approved for?
This course has been approved for 1 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants in the US. Please see the FAQ 'Has this course been approved for CEUs (Continuing Education Units) for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants in the US?' for a detailed list of the approved states. In order for your US jurisdiction information to appear on your course certificate, you must complete your jurisdiction information on your Embodia profile as per this guide.