Which clinicians can help?
Dizziness can come from more than one body system. Because of that, more than one type of clinician may be involved in your care. The right fit depends on your symptoms, what seems to trigger them, what testing may be needed, and whether any urgent warning signs are present.
Core Disciplines
Doctor of Audiology (AuD)
Audiologists are hearing and balance specialists who usually complete a Doctor of Audiology degree after undergraduate college. They evaluate hearing, tinnitus, dizziness, and balance concerns. In dizziness care, audiologists may perform specialized vestibular testing, such as videonystagmography, caloric testing, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, rotary chair testing, or other balance tests. These tests help assess how the inner ear and balance system are working. Based on the results, audiologists may explain findings, recommend vestibular rehabilitation, treat or refer for certain conditions such as BPPV when appropriate, or refer you to another medical provider for further evaluation.
Audiologist discussing ear anatomy with care-seeker
Physical Therapy (PT, DPT)
Physical therapists are movement and rehabilitation specialists with advanced education in anatomy, neuroscience, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based care. In the U.S., new physical therapists typically complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Vestibular physical therapists have additional training in dizziness, vertigo, and balance conditions. They can evaluate dizziness symptoms, help identify likely contributors, and assist in the diagnostic process within their clinical scope. They may perform positional testing, provide canalith repositioning maneuvers, prescribe gaze-stabilization and balance exercises, and teach fall-prevention strategies.
Vestibular physical therapist performing a Dix-Hallpike test with a dizzy patient
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD/PhD)
Clinical psychologists help care-seekers manage thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that can affect daily function and physical well-being. They typically complete doctoral-level training in psychology and supervised clinical experience.
In dizziness care, they may help when symptoms are affected by anxiety, panic, fear of movement, stress, or avoidance behaviors. They may also support people with functional dizziness disorders such as PPPD (Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness) using strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, coping skills, and collaboration with medical or rehabilitation providers.
Psychologist listening to a care-seeker
ENT / Otolaryngologist (MD/DO)
ENTs, also called otolaryngologists, are medical doctors with many years of training who diagnose and treat conditions involving the ear, nose, and throat. In dizziness care, they often evaluate inner ear problems that may cause vertigo, imbalance, ear fullness, ringing in the ears, or hearing changes. They may perform medical exams, review or order hearing and vestibular testing, prescribe treatment, and refer to other specialists such as audiology, vestibular physical therapy, neurology, or neurotology when needed.
ENT performing a simple ear exam
Otologist (MD/DO)
Otologists are ENTs with advanced focus on conditions involving the ear and related structures. In dizziness care, they often help evaluate more complex ear-based problems, especially when symptoms include hearing loss, tinnitus, ear pressure, or suspected inner ear disease. They may interpret specialized testing, guide medical or surgical treatment options, and coordinate care with audiologists, vestibular therapists, and other specialists when balance and hearing symptoms overlap.
Otologist examining care-seeker's ear
Neurotologist (MD/DO)
Neurotologists are highly specialized ear surgeons with additional advanced training in disorders of the inner ear, hearing, balance, and related nerve pathways. They often care for patients with more complex vestibular or hearing conditions, such as Ménière’s disease, superior canal dehiscence, acoustic neuroma, chronic ear disease, or other disorders affecting both hearing and balance. They may provide detailed diagnostic evaluation, interpret advanced testing and imaging, and offer medical or surgical treatment when appropriate.
Neurotologist marking the ear of a care-seeker for surgery
Neurologist (MD/DO)
Neurologists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat conditions involving the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. In dizziness care, they often help when symptoms may be related to vestibular migraine, concussion, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or other neurologic causes of dizziness and imbalance. They may perform neurologic exams, review imaging and other test results, prescribe treatment, and work with other clinicians when symptoms involve both the nervous system and the balance system.
Neurologist reviewing brain imaging
Supporting Disciplines
Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)
Chiropractors are healthcare professionals who focus on the neuromusculoskeletal system, including the spine, joints, muscles, and related nerves. They complete a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and are trained in anatomy, spinal assessment, manual therapy, and rehabilitative care. Chiropractors are not usually the primary specialist for dizziness, but they may help evaluate neck-related contributors to dizziness or unsteadiness. When appropriate, care may include spinal or joint manipulation, soft-tissue techniques, exercise, posture education, and referral to other healthcare providers.
Chiropractor performing spinal manipulation on a care-seeker
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DO physicians, complete medical school and residency training like MD physicians. They also receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative treatment, or OMT, a hands-on approach used to evaluate and treat the muscles, joints, and nerves. For dizziness care, DO physicians can evaluate many possible causes, including inner ear, neurologic, cardiovascular, medication-related, and neck-related factors. When appropriate, they may use OMT along with standard medical care, such as medication, imaging, testing, or referral to another specialist.
DO physician giving OMT to a care-seeker
Doctor of Optometry (OD)
Optometrists are eye doctors who complete a Doctor of Optometry degree after undergraduate college. They examine eye health, prescribe glasses or contact lenses, and evaluate how the eyes focus, move, and work together. For dizziness care, optometrists may look for vision-related problems that can contribute to dizziness, such as eye-teaming problems, convergence insufficiency, double vision, or visual motion sensitivity. Some optometrists have additional training in binocular vision, neuro-optometric rehabilitation, or vision therapy. When appropriate, they may prescribe corrective lenses, prism lenses, or vision therapy and coordinate care with vestibular or medical specialists.
Optometrist performing eye exam on a care-seeker
Physician Assistant (PA)
Physician assistants, or PAs, are medical providers who work as part of a healthcare team with physicians and other clinicians. PAs usually complete a master’s-level medical program after undergraduate college. They are trained to take medical histories, perform physical exams, diagnose and treat medical conditions, order and interpret tests, prescribe medication when allowed by state law, and refer to specialists. In dizziness care, PAs may ask detailed questions about symptoms, perform neurologic or vestibular screening exams, check for medication side effects or urgent warning signs, order testing or imaging when needed, and start treatment or referrals for conditions such as BPPV, vestibular migraine, nausea, or cardiovascular concerns.
PA working with a physician
Registered Nurse (RN)
Registered nurses, or RNs, complete an approved nursing program after high school, usually through an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or diploma program. They provide and coordinate patient care, check vital signs, perform nursing assessments, educate patients, and help carry out the care plan. In dizziness care, RNs may ask about symptoms, monitor blood pressure and heart rate changes with position, review medications or safety concerns, and communicate important findings to the medical team. RNs do not usually diagnose the cause of dizziness independently, but they can play a role in assessment, monitoring, education, and care coordination.
RN triaging a care-seeker's acute vertigo
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Nurse practitioners, or NPs, are registered nurses with advanced graduate training, usually a master’s or doctoral degree. They are trained to assess patients, order and interpret tests, diagnose medical conditions, prescribe medication when allowed by state law, and manage care. In dizziness care, NPs may review symptoms, perform a physical exam, check blood pressure and heart rate changes with position, order testing or imaging when needed, and treat or refer for common causes of dizziness such as BPPV, vestibular migraine, medication side effects, or cardiovascular concerns.
NP evaluating a care-seeker through physical examination
Occupational Therapist (OT)
Occupational therapists, or OTs, complete a master’s or doctoral degree after undergraduate college. They help people do daily activities more safely and independently, such as getting dressed, bathing, cooking, working, driving, or moving around in the community. In dizziness care, OTs look at how dizziness, balance problems, or visual motion sensitivity affect daily life. Some OTs with vestibular training may provide exercises that help the brain get used to certain movements or busy visual environments. They may also recommend home changes, adaptive equipment, pacing strategies, and fall-prevention techniques.
OT working with a care-seeker on safely bending down
Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)
Physical therapist assistants, PTAs, graduate from a 2‑year associate program and work under a physical therapist’s supervision. They carry out vestibular exercise protocols, supervise balance and gait‑training sessions, and document progress, helping care-seekers stay on track with their dizziness care plan.
PTA guiding a care-seeker through their dizziness care plan
How to Find Care
A good place to start is with a trusted referral, a hospital or clinic directory, a professional directory, or a tool like Dizzy Care Network, which can help guide people toward clinicians who fit their needs. All of the clinicians above are able to treat dizziness, but when searching for help, look for someone who sees dizziness regularly, treats symptoms like yours, and can provide or coordinate the right testing.
Finding the right care can be complicated, but you do not need to know the exact diagnoses before looking for help. It can still be useful to describe what your dizziness feels like, how long it lasts, what triggers it, and whether you also have symptoms like hearing changes, headache, nausea, or trouble walking. These details can help point you toward the right kind of care. There are also many online resources that can help you search for care.