It is important to diagnose the cause of vertigo, as quickly as possible to rule out serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, hemorrhage, or tumor. Diagnosis includes medical history, physical and neurological examination, blood tests, and imaging tests.

The diagnosis of vertigo is made based on the description of what the person is feeling. What is causing the vertigo can be divided into two major categories, peripheral vertigo and central vertigo.

Peripheral Vertigo                                                                                      

Peripheral vertigo, common causes of vertigo it includes benign positional vertigo, labyrinthitis and Ménière's disease.

Positional vertigo is diagnosed when moving the head causes the vertigo and returning the head to a neutral position relieves symptoms. 

Labyrinthitis is inflammation of the fluid-containing chamber of the inner ear (called the labyrinth) that maintains balance; can cause a feeling that ones surroundings are spinning around (known as vertigo)

Meniere's disease also known idiopathicendolymphatic hydrops, is a disorder of the inner ear. It probably results from an abnormality in the fluids of the inner ear, most common causes of dizziness originating in the ear.

Central Vertigo                                                                                          

Central vertigo is a more serious problem in the cerebellum (back part of the brain) or brain stem. It occurs if there is a an abnormality in the brain, particularly in the brainstem or the cerebellum.

Central vertigo is vertigo due to a disease originating from the central nervous system (CNS). Individuals with vertigo experience hallucinations of motion of their surroundings. Central vertigo may be caused by hemorrhagic or ischemic insults to the cerebellum, the vestibular nuclei, and their connections within the brain stem. Other causes include CNS tumors, infection, trauma, and multiple sclerosis.