Fast & Confident Differentials: A Simple Approach to Diagnosing Dizziness in 5 Minutes

Overview 

Dizziness is one of the most common — and most challenging — symptoms encountered in physiotherapy practice. Overlapping presentations, time constraints, and multifactorial drivers often leave clinicians feeling uncertain about diagnosis and next steps.

This webinar presents a simple, efficient clinical framework that physiotherapists can use to rapidly narrow differential diagnoses for dizziness within the first few minutes of assessment. Using pattern recognition, targeted history-taking, and a high-yield physical screen, participants will learn how to confidently differentiate common vestibular conditions, recognize red flags, and determine when to treat, reassess, or refer.

The focus is on practical clinical reasoning, not memorization, with real-world case examples that mirror everyday outpatient practice.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Apply a structured 5-minute framework to triage patients presenting with dizziness
2. Identify key symptom patterns that differentiate common vestibular conditions
3. Distinguish between peripheral, central, and functional contributors to dizziness
4. Perform a focused, high-yield vestibular screen to support differential diagnosis
5. Recognize red flags and presentations that require medical referral

Audience

This webinar is designed for:

• Physiotherapists treating patients with dizziness or balance disorders
• Clinicians with an interest in vestibular rehabilitation, including those early in their vestibular learning journey
• Physiotherapists who frequently manage BPPV, concussion, vestibular hypofunction, migraine, or persistent dizziness
• Clinicians seeking greater confidence and efficiency in vestibular differential diagnosis

No advanced vestibular specialization is required, though the content is highly relevant for clinicians managing complex or persistent dizziness presentations.

Registration & What’s Included

Registration includes:

• Access to the live webinar

• Live Q&A—bring your clinical questions

• Access to the recording

• Downloadable resource(s)/slides

• Certificate of completion

This webinar 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.

Recording and Replays

This webinar will be recorded and made available on Embodia as a course at no additional cost for registered attendees. If you’re unable to attend live, you’ll receive access to the recording and any shared resources shortly after the session.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for U.S. PTs and PTAs

This webinar provides 1 CEU for eligible participants.

Embodia is an approved provider of continuing education for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants in multiple jurisdictions, including Illinois, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and California (through Redefine Health Education).

Courses approved by these state boards are likely accepted for licensure credit in the following jurisdictions, based on individual state regulations:

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

Clinicians are encouraged to confirm acceptance with their state licensing board.