"Hello, I’m [Your Name], one of the doctors/nurses. I understand you've come in today because you've been experiencing dizziness. Is that right?"
"Before we go any further, what are your thoughts about what might be causing this dizziness, or what it might mean?"
"And is there anything in particular that you're worried about, or anything you were hoping we could achieve during our conversation today?"
"Could you describe your dizziness for me? When did it first start, and did it come on suddenly or gradually?"
"It's really important to understand exactly what 'dizziness' feels like for you, as it can mean different things to different people. Does it feel like the room is spinning around you, or that you yourself are spinning (we call this vertigo)? Or do you feel lightheaded, like you might faint? Or perhaps just generally unsteady or off-balance?"
"Have you noticed any other symptoms happening with the dizziness? Like nausea or vomiting? Any headache? Changes in your hearing, like ringing in your ears (tinnitus) or a feeling of fullness in your ear? What about any weakness, numbness, double vision, or changes in your speech?"
"How often does this dizziness occur, and how long does each episode last? Is it constant, or does it come and go?"
"Are there any specific triggers for your dizziness? For example, does it happen when you change position, like sitting up or lying down? Or when you move your head quickly? Does it happen with exertion, or when you're feeling stressed?"
"On a scale of 1 to 10, how severe is this dizziness, and how has it been affecting your daily life? For example, has it caused you to fall, or affected your ability to drive?"
"What makes the dizziness better or worse? Does resting help, or lying down?"
"I also need to ask about some important 'red flag' symptoms. Have you had a sudden, severe headache with the dizziness? Any new weakness, numbness, or problems with your vision or speech? Any sudden loss of hearing in one ear? Or does the dizziness only happen when you exert yourself?"
"Do you have any existing medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions (like an irregular heartbeat or heart failure), a history of strokes or mini-strokes (TIAs), migraines, or ear infections? What about thyroid problems or anaemia?"
"Have you ever had any operations or procedures, especially any ear surgery?"
"Are you currently taking any medications, including anything prescribed by a doctor, or any over-the-counter medicines, supplements, or herbal remedies? Some medications, like those for blood pressure, water tablets, or certain antidepressants, can sometimes cause dizziness as a side effect."
"Do you have any allergies to medications or anything else? If so, what kind of reaction did you have?"
"Does anyone in your close family have a history of heart conditions, neurological conditions like migraines or epilepsy, or Meniere's disease?"
"Could you tell me a little about your living situation and who you live with? Do you have a good support network around you? Are you able to manage all your daily activities? What kind of work do you do, and are there any high-risk activities involved?"
"Do you smoke, and if so, how much? How much alcohol do you drink in a week? Do you use any recreational drugs?"
"What's your typical fluid intake like? How about your diet and exercise habits?"
"Regarding driving, it's very important that you do not drive if your dizziness affects your ability to do so safely. We can discuss this further."
"Thank you very much for sharing all of that information with me. Just to summarise, you've been experiencing [recap key symptoms and type of dizziness], which started [onset] and are often [character/timing]. You've also mentioned [recap relevant PMH/DH/FH/SH]."
"Does that sound like an accurate summary? Is there anything else you feel is important that we haven't covered?"
"Based on what you've told me, the next steps would be for me to perform a physical examination focusing on your neurological and cardiovascular systems, and potentially your ears. We might also consider some investigations, such as blood tests, an ECG (heart tracing), or imaging, to understand what's causing your dizziness."
"Do you have any questions for me at this stage?"
"Thank you for your time."