Diagnostic Error Survey - Vestibular Disorders Association

Have you ever visited the emergency room (ER) for vertigo, dizziness, or other balance-related symptoms, as a patient? And if so, how many times?*

Let us know in the comment box if you are answering for someone else, such as a close family member or friend, who experienced these symptoms.

After being sent home, have you ever found out that your diagnosis given to you in the ER was wrong or incomplete?*

In other words, did you eventually discover that the true disease causing your dizziness/vertigo/balance problems wasn’t accurately identified and promptly treated at the ER visit, as determined later by another healthcare provider or additional diagnostic tests?

Yes, one or more ER diagnoses initially said to explain my dizziness/vertigo/balance problems was wrong, incomplete, or not fully communicated to me.
No, all of the ER diagnoses for the cause of my dizziness/vertigo/balance problems turned out to be accurate, timely, and properly communicated to me.
I don't know.

If you had been correctly diagnosed in the ER the first time around, would it have improved your quality of life?*

For this answer, think about the following: (i) Did your symptoms last longer or become more severe than they should have been if you had been diagnosed correctly and promptly treated?; (ii) Was there was any long-term physical disability that could have been prevented?; (iii) Was there any lingering psychological harm, including loss of confidence in your doctors or the healthcare system?; (iv) Did you or your family have any increased healthcare costs as a result of the misdiagnosis, such as additional out-of-pocket costs (including lost work wages) for unnecessary visits, tests, or treatments that resulted from the original misdiagnosis? (v) Did you spend time pursuing treatments that did not help the dizziness symptoms (e.g., dietary changes, meditation, psychotherapy) because the initial ER diagnosis was wrong?

Yes, significantly
Yes, somewhat
Yes, but very little
No, not at all
I don't know/not applicable

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Your Story

Please feel free to share any stories / experiences in which your dizziness, vertigo, or vestibular disorder was misdiagnosed in the emergency room.

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