Lindsay-Hemenway syndrome: vestibular neuritis followed by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
First the world spins violently for days. Then, just as that seems to be resolving, the vertigo comes back every time you roll over in bed. If this sequence sounds familiar, it has a name: Lindsay-Hemenway syndrome — the recognized pattern of vestibular neuritis followed by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). In this free course, we explain why these two conditions occur together, how to tell them apart, and what can be done about each one. If you've been through both, this course will make sense of your experience.
This material is intended for educational purposes only, and does not substitute evaluation by a qualified medical professional.
In developing this course we reviewed literature (so that you don't have to)!
The article that originally described this syndrome:
- Hemenway WG, Lindsay JR (1956) Postural vertigo due to unilateral sudden partial loss of vestibular function. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 65: 692-706. doi: 10.1177/000348945606500311
Biographical information about the physician who described the condition:
- Schuknecht HF (1983) John R. Lindsay: clinician, teacher, otopathologist. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl 102: 12-6. doi: 10.1177/00034894830921s204
Literature patients may find useful:
- Anghel A, Badea C, Musat G (2020) Lindsay-Hemenway Syndrome: Review of the literature and case report. Romanian Journal of Rhinology 10: 13-18. doi: 10.2478/rjr-2020-0003
- Balatsouras DG, Koukoutsis G, Ganelis P, Economou NC, Moukos A, Aspris A, Katotomichelakis M (2014) Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo secondary to vestibular neuritis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 271: 919-24. doi: 10.1007/s00405-013-2484-2
- Chacchi PM, Touma GC, Perez LC, Batuecas-Caletrio A, Sanz EM (2025) Lindsay-Hemenway Syndrome, Acute Vertigo Followed by BPPV: A Prospective Comparative Study. Laryngoscope. doi: 10.1002/lary.70324
- Gkoritsa EZ (2016) The Lyndsay [sic]-Hemenway syndrome: two case reports, review and comments. J Ear Nose Throat Disord 1: 1014. doi: 10.47739/2475-9473/1014
Literature for specialists who want to dig deeper:
- Casani AP, Cerchiai N, Navari E (2018) Paroxysmal positional vertigo despite complete vestibular impairment: the role of instrumental assessment. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 38: 563-568. doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-1549
- Waissbluth S, Becker J, Sepúlveda V, Iribarren J, García-Huidobro F (2023) Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Secondary to Acute Unilateral Peripheral Vestibulopathy: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors. The Journal of International Advanced Otology: 28-32. doi: 10.5152/iao.2023.22703
