National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) Practice Exam

If a patient experiences dizziness and the sensation that the room is spinning, which diagnosis might be suspected?

1. Dysdiadochokinesia

2. Dysmetria

3. Vertigo

4. Oscillopsia

The correct answer is: Vertigo

The symptom of dizziness coupled with the sensation that the room is spinning is characteristic of vertigo. Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness that often arises from problems in the inner ear or the vestibular system, affecting balance and spatial orientation. Patients with vertigo may experience a disorienting sense of motion; they might feel as though they or their environment is moving when it is not. In contrast, dysdiadochokinesia refers to an impaired ability to perform rapid alternating movements, whereas dysmetria involves an inability to control the range of movement and accurately reach a target, often due to cerebellar dysfunction. Oscillopsia, though related to vision, describes the perception of objects moving or bouncing when the head is in motion, which is not synonymous with the spinning sensation described in this scenario. Therefore, the presentation of dizziness with a spinning sensation directly points to vertigo as the most appropriate diagnosis.