"SO STONED": Common Sense Approach of the Dizzy Patient.
The history taking of a dizzy patient is of utmost importance in order to differentiate the possible etiologies of vertigo. The key factors that allow a first approximation of diagnosis identification are based on the time profile, symptom profile, and trigger profile of the disease. Here, the proposed mnemonic "SO STONED" comprises eight different dimensions that characterize the vertigo-related complaints of the patient and guide the clinician in his or her decision scheme. All the letters "SO STONED" have a specific meaning: Symptoms, Often (Frequency), Since, Trigger, Otology, Neurology, Evolution, and Duration. Since the most common vestibular diseases have different fingerprints when all dimensions are considered, this tool can facilitate the identification of the appropriate vestibular diagnosis.
Antwerp University Research Centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace (AUREA), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Floris L
FL
Wuyts
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Vincent
V
Van Rompaey
Department of Biomedical Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Leen K
LK
Maes
SO STONED; dizzy; history taking; vertigo