McLaughlin's Criterion

McLaughlin's Criterion is a diagnostic guideline used to identify benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a common inner ear disorder causing dizziness. It states that if a patient's vertigo symptoms are triggered exclusively by certain head movements—specifically, when their head is moved in specific positions—and these symptoms resolve quickly after stopping the movement, then BPPV is the likely cause. Essentially, the criterion helps clinicians distinguish BPPV from other causes of dizziness by focusing on the relationship between specific head positions and symptom onset, aiding in accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.