Talk Dizzy To Me

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is often misunderstood... but it’s real, common, AND treatable. In this episode of Talk Dizzy To Me, vestibular physical therapists Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS and Dr. Carly Lochala, PT, NCS sit down with Dr. Julie Hershberg, PT, NCS to explain what FND is, why it’s been minimized in healthcare, and how it overlaps with dizziness, migraine, dysautonomia/POTS, hypermobility/EDS, and vestibular disorders.
They break down brain networks like the default mode network and salience network, discuss common clinical clues (variability, attention-related shifts), and explain how treatment often starts with nervous system regulation, trust-building, and whole-person care—not just exercises.
If you’ve been told your symptoms are “all in your head,” this episode is for you.

Guest: Dr. Julie Hershberg / Reactive PT Instagram: @reactivept
Resources: FND resources hub, reactivept.com/FNDresources

Hosted by:
🎤 Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS
🎤 Dr. Carly Lochala, PT, NCS

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Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Talk Dizzy To Me (intro)
01:42 What is Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)? How to explain it to patients
02:08 FND as a brain network dysfunction (function vs structure)
03:32 Why education improves outcomes in vestibular care + FND
04:02 Why FND has been misunderstood/minimized in healthcare
04:12 From “hysteria” and “conversion disorder” to modern neuroscience
06:05 Harmful stigma: being told symptoms are “fake” + medical trauma
08:19 What to look for when you suspect FND (clinical clues)
09:13 Variability, attention-related shifts, symptoms “moving”
10:35 Screening for other diagnoses + doing a thorough neuro screen
11:04 Common comorbidities missed: migraine, EDS/hypermobility, POTS/dysautonomia, vestibular disorders
12:53 What you’ll hear in the subjective history that suggests FND
15:13 Why “one test” (like Hoover) isn’t enough + signs vary by symptom type
16:54 Diagnostic criteria: what exists, what’s lacking, what needs improvement
19:12 Risk factors & triggers: sex differences, pain, sleep, physical injury/illness
21:01 Dizziness in FND: how common is it + vestibular system connection
21:59 Autonomic + sensory overlap (vestibular sympathetic reflex, otolith sensitivity)
24:44 Treatment approach: why there’s no one-size-fits-all protocol
25:38 Whole-person assessment + “pie chart” contributors + education foundation
29:00 Building trust, validation, and safety (especially after medical trauma)
31:18 Why play, fun, and salience matter for nervous system regulation + motor learning
32:45 Default mode network vs salience network explained simply
37:48 Social media + FND: what we think vs what research shows
41:26 Adapting vestibular rehab when FND is part of the picture
44:26 Safety + motor symptoms: when you prioritize regulation over exercise
48:18 Sensory inventory & building a regulation toolkit (OT-informed strategies)
51:00 Not everyone needs “calm”—some people need safe movement to regulate
52:18 “Mic drop” messages for people who feel stuck
55:21 Where to find Dr. Julie Hirschberg’s FND resources

In this episode of Talk Dizzy To Me, vestibular physical therapists Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS and Dr. Danielle Tolman sit down with Laura Ehlers to share a powerful, real-life story of chronic dizziness, plus the long road to obtaining answers in a healthcare system that often defaults to “it’s BPPV” or “it’s anxiety.”Laura walks us through how her symptoms evolved after being hit in the head and what her life looks like living with dizziness. She also shares the layered diagnoses that often show up together in complex dizziness cases—vestibular migraine, PPPD (Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness), dysautonomia/POTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome), and hypermobility/EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), as well as the strategies that have helped her rebuild capacity.You’ll hear practical, experience-based advice on:- How to advocate for yourself when you’re not being believed- Why the right healthcare provider can be a game-changer- Medication realities: from sensitivities to finding what works

Guest: Laura Ehlers
Instagram: @laurasnaturallife

Hosted by:
🎤 Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS
🎤 Dr. Danielle Tolman, PT

For episode recommendations or requests, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get free resources straight to your inbox⁠⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Dizzy Reset™ for FREE
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01:11 Laura’s background: chronic migraine, holistic health, and early dizziness tools
02:37 Early warning signs: highway driving issues, tunnel vision, “is it anxiety?”
03:05 Vision therapy → severe spinning vertigo onset
04:33 Current symptoms: nonstop rocking/boat sensation + visual flow triggers
04:59 Life impact: driving intolerance, travel limits, parenting challenges
06:27 The advocacy problem: being believed, speaking the “right language”
07:52 Misconceptions in healthcare: “If Epley didn’t work, you’re anxious”
09:47 Resources that helped: clinicians online + vestibular education on social media
10:42 Why primary care matters: getting treated even without a supportive specialist
11:09 Diagnoses explained: vestibular migraine + PPPD + dysautonomia/POTS spectrum
12:07 Layering issues: infections, mold gene, mast cell activity
13:06 Clinician perspective: frustration when patients get conflicting medical input
14:31 Hope vs acceptance: living in the chronic illness “seesaw”
15:59 Biggest mindset tool: document wins to prove progress is happening
17:35 “Early whispers” of symptoms
20:58 What helped most: rehab principles + sensory integration focus
21:20 Proprioception strategies: weighted inputs, holds, stomps, boots, blanket
22:46 Hyperbaric oxygen: regaining ability to read
23:15 Scaling exposure: “one sidewalk square at a time”
24:14 Breakthrough: walking on grass increased capacity
25:14 Histamine/mast cell stabilization: Zyrtec and sleep/sensory benefits
26:35 EDS/hypermobility: why screening matters in the “triad” conversation
28:40 Daily habits: caffeine consistency, electrolytes, potassium vs sodium insight
29:10 Nervous system work: somatic therapy + staying committed to movement
31:10 Mindset during flares: you’re not at square one; you’re stepping off the path
36:19 Encouragement for beginners: slow progress still adds up
37:45 Identity shift: grief + reinventing life (reading, painting, new interests)
39:06 Community: why 1:1 connections can beat unmoderated groups
41:30 Medication journey: fear, hesitancy, and why meds became a useful tool
44:55 Rescue meds (Ativan): pre-treating to participate in life moments
45:54 Micro-dosing approach: ultra-low starts + pharmacist check-ins
46:52 LDN + Zyrtec wins; sensitivity to other meds
48:40 Mic drop moments: what clinicians must understand + patient hope message

If you’re a physical therapist treating dizziness (or a patient trying to understand what’s going on), this episode is packed with practical, clinic-ready guidance. Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS and Dr. Dani Tolman, PT welcome Dr. Sara MacDowell, PT & Dr. Sydney Duhe, PT from Dizzy Diagnostics to break down real-world vestibular cases—including BPPV with lingering symptoms, acute vertigo after the ER (vestibular neuritis / hypofunction), and the common overlap of vestibular migraine (VM) + Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) with visual motion sensitivity.
You’ll learn how to think beyond textbook presentations, how to avoid missing multi-canal or bilateral BPPV, how to build patient buy-in with education, and how to dose and progress VOR/gaze stabilization and visual desensitization exercises for busy environments like grocery stores.

Episode Resources:
-Follow Dizzy Diagnostics on Instagram: @DizzyDiagnostics
-Advanced Neurotherapy Education (ANTE): advancedneurotherapyed.com⁠⁠

Hosted by:
🎤 Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS
🎤 Dr. Danielle Tolman, PT

For episode recommendations or requests, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Us:
→ ⁠⁠⁠Book a free call with us⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Get free resources straight to your inbox⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠Join The Dizzy Reset⁠
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Timestamps
00:15 - Meet the guests: Sydney & Sarah (Dizzy Diagnostics) + their vestibular journeys
05:18 - Case 1: BPPV treated… but lingering dizziness/imbalance remains
06:39 - “First check: is BPPV truly resolved?” (all canals + short arm considerations)
07:36 - Fear avoidance + habituation: getting patients moving again safely
09:56 - Look beyond BPPV: hypofunction, migraine, cervicogenic contributors
12:45 - Multi-canal BPPV: why it’s tricky + how to prioritize treatment
14:36 - Treating multiple canals in one session
19:49 - Do you always schedule a follow-up after “straightforward” BPPV?
21:46 - Teaching self-treatment + “seeing is believing” re-check visits
24:08 - Case 2: ER “vertigo,” meclizine, lingering unsteadiness weeks later
25:35 - Full vestibular exam even with “negative imaging”
27:26 - What you expect in unilateral hypofunction: oculomotor, HIT/VHIT, balance, gait
29:14 - Treatment: education first, then VOR + balance + functional head movement
32:03 - Anxiety/fear avoidance: reframing dizziness as a “learning opportunity”
33:59 - Time-crunched HEP: “stacking” exercises into daily life
36:47 - VOR progression: dosing, symptom monitoring, advancing complexity
39:10 - The future of gaze stability: more specific dosing, unilateral work, wearables
42:37 - Case 3: Mid-30s postpartum, floaty dizziness + visual motion sensitivity (VM + PPPD/3PD)
44:03 - VM education: migraine features without head pain; hormonal shifts as triggers
45:28 - PPPD/3PD overlap + early prevention
51:49 - Treating visual motion sensitivity: patterns, videos, salience, real-world exposure
58:00 - Where to find Dizzy Diagnostics + resources

In this special episode of Talk Dizzy to Me, vestibular physical therapists Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS and Dr. Dani Tolman, PT sit down with two giants in the vestibular field: Jeff Walter, PT, DPT, NCS and Helena Esmonde, PT, DPT, NCS (Vestibular First).
Jeff tries to stump the group with vestibular questions covering:
-The history of John Epley and his contributions to the field
-Alexander’s law, Brun’s nystagmus, and the origin of the word nystagmus
-A precise definition of vertigo
-Advanced use of the bow and lean test for horizontal canal BPPV
-What happens when BPPV maneuvers go “wrong” (short arm, conversion, retesting)
-Practical use of the Rinne test, recruitment, and tuning forks in vestibular practice
-How to interpret CT scans that “show” superior canal dehiscence (SCD)
-A rare case of cough-induced nystagmus
-The reality that some dizzy patients don’t fit neatly into any diagnosis—and why that’s okay

Whether you’re a vestibular therapist, audiologist, ENT provider, or someone with dizziness hungry for answers, this episode is packed with clinical pearls, red flags, and pattern recognition tips for vertigo, BPPV, nystagmus, and beyond.

Episode Resources:
Jeff Walter, PT, DPT, NCS
-https://www.vestibular.today
-MedBridge Courses: https://www.medbridge.com/educate/instructors/jeff-walter-dpt-ncs
Helena Esmonde, PT, DPT, NCS
-https://vestibularfirst.com
-Journal Club: https://vestibularfirst.com/education/journal-club/
-Educational Resources/Handouts: https://vestibularfirst.com/education/resources/
-Vestibular First 's Journal Club- Clinical Pearls from an Unusual Case of Vertigo: https://youtu.be/ASjx5Yet1So?si=3qu5LkiD_pEDagHq

For more FREE resources, click ⁠⁠⁠here⁠.⁠⁠

Hosted by:
🎤 Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS
🎤 Dr. Danielle Tolman, PT

For episode recommendations or requests, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Us:
→ ⁠⁠⁠Book a free call with us⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Get free resources straight to your inbox⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠Join The Dizzy Reset⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Watch podcast episodes (and more) on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Follow us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠
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Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
00:15 – Meet the Hosts & Guests
02:09 – Education Resources & Journal Club
03:08 – History Lesson: Dr. John Epley
06:21 – Alexander’s Law Explained
09:39 – Gustav Alexander’s Shocking Death
11:10 – Origin of the Term “Nystagmus”
13:31 – Brun’s Nystagmus & CPA Tumors
15:10 – Defining Vertigo (ICVD-Based)
18:22 – Bow & Lean Test: Angles, Mechanics & Clinical Pearls
23:24 – Short Arm / Anterior Arm BPPV & Tricks to Get Crystals Moving
27:34 – Retesting Posterior Canal BPPV: When You Re-Create the Problem
32:23 – Short Arm Debris & “Wimpy” Persistent Torsion
35:08 – Maneuver Names, Variations & Confusion in the Literature
38:53 – Tuning Forks in Vestibular & ENT Practice
45:19 – CT & Superior Canal Dehiscence: Might vs Definitely
49:22 – Cough-Induced Nystagmus
51:39 – Pattern Recognition, Edge Cases & Not Knowing Everything
56:15 – Reassuring Patients & “Doing the Next Right Thing”

Vestibular physical therapists Abbie Ross, PT, DPT, NCS, and Danielle Tolman, PT, DPT, sit down with Rob Landel, PT, DPT, FAPTA, to unpack cervicogenic dizziness (CGD) — what it is and isn’t, how to tell neck-driven dizziness apart from inner ear causes, and the clinical tools that actually make a difference.

They dive into the head–neck differentiation test, cervical joint position error (JPE) testing with a laser, and why CGD rarely causes vertigo or spinning. You’ll also hear how concussion, whiplash, BPPV, and migraine can overlap with neck-related dizziness — plus practical insights on manual traction, cervical strength and endurance training, “pain-first” strategies, and when a short-term collar might help (despite its bad reputation).

Episode Resources:
Website: skillworks.biz
Email: [email protected]

For more FREE resources, click ⁠⁠⁠here⁠.⁠⁠

Hosted by:
🎤 Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS
🎤 Dr. Danielle Tolman, PT

For episode recommendations or requests, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Us:
→ ⁠⁠⁠Book a free call with us⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Get free resources straight to your inbox⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠Join The Dizzy Reset⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Watch podcast episodes (and more) on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Follow us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠
→ ⁠⁠⁠Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a review!

Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome & show open
00:45 – Dr. Lindell’s background & early vestibular days
03:01 – How far vestibular rehab has come
03:58 – Defining CGD clinically
05:26 – Symptoms CGD
06:26 – CGD with vestibular or central issues; trauma link
07:25 – Secondary CGD from guarding & “moving in blocks”
08:31 – Is CGD over- or under-diagnosed?
12:11 – BPPV + trauma: when to probe the neck
14:10 – Migraine, vestibular migraine, cervicogenic headache—untangling overlap
16:26 – How neck input feeds spatial orientation
19:43 – Mismatch analogy: why CGD feels like seasickness
21:10 – History taking: get precise about “dizzy”
22:38 – Traumatic vs. atraumatic onset; red flags & neuro screen
26:28 – Exam flow once central/peripheral causes are ruled down
27:22 – Head–Neck Differentiation Test (separating head vs. neck motion)
30:17 – Cervical Relocation / Joint Position Error (JPE) Test with laser
33:27 – Testing extension: stabilizing neck vs. moving head in block
35:03 – Treatment blueprint: mobility, pain, motor control, strength/endurance
37:26 – Laser tracing progressions
38:20 – Timelines: why strength/endurance take the longest
46:18 – Why one therapist managing vestibular + MSK is ideal
49:18 – Evidence & experience with traction/manipulation for CGD
50:43 – “Heavy-headedness”
53:22 – Fatigue → increased sway; training normalizes it
54:48 – Wrap-up & future part 2 ideas