Assessment and Management of Dizziness and Acute Balance Impairment

This focused course equips AHPs and nurses to assess, manage, and deliver early interventions for patients presenting with dizziness or acute balance impairment in urgent and emergency care settings.

Aim:
To provide clinicians with enhanced knowledge and practical skills to assess the underlying causes of dizziness and acute balance disturbance, and to plan and deliver safe, evidence-based interventions that support recovery, function, and self-management.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

1. Differentiate between types of dizziness (pre-syncopal, disequilibrium, vertigo, non-specific) and identify associated risk factors.
2. Describe how blood pressure and cardiovascular factors influence balance, and recognise red flags and escalation requirements.
3. Identify central nervous system causes of dizziness and apply diagnostic assessments including the Head Impulse Nystagmus Test (HINTS).
4. Assess the vestibular system, vision, hearing, and proprioception, applying structured examination techniques and recognising red flags.
5. Perform assessment and management of vertigo, including Dix-Hallpike, Epley manoeuvre, and Brandt-Daroff exercises.
6. Apply principles of vestibular rehabilitation, demonstrating common exercises to support recovery.
7. Develop safe, person-centred management plans that integrate functional assessment, early interventions, self-management strategies, and appropriate discharge pathways.
8. Incorporate health promotion, pathway guidance, digital tools, and shared decision-making into care planning.
9. Demonstrate collaborative working and clinical leadership to optimise patient outcomes in urgent and emergency care.

Practical Learning:
The course blends demonstration, guided practice, case-based discussion, and pathway-focused learning. Participants will use light pens and hand-held eye charts to practise vestibular and visual assessments, ensuring they leave with skills they can apply immediately in clinical settings.

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