Duration of episode	Suggested diagnosis
A few seconds	Peripheral cause: unilateral loss of vestibular function; late stages of acute vestibular neuronitis; late stages of Ménière’s disease
Several seconds to a few minutes	Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; perilymphatic fistula
Several minutes to one hour	Posterior transient ischemic attack; perilymphatic fistula
Hours	Ménière’s disease; perilymphatic fistula from trauma or surgery; migraine; acoustic neuroma
Days	Early acute vestibular neuronitis*; stroke; migraine; multiple sclerosis
Weeks	Psychogenic (constant vertigo lasting weeks without improvement)