Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features and the causes of misdiagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in the elderly. Methods21 aged patients diagnosed with BPPV finally were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsBPPV occurred more in female and associated with the posterior semicircular canal. The symptoms of vertigo were obviously improved with the canalith repositioning. With suffering from chronic diseases such as hypertension and cervical spondylosis etc., BPPV in the aged was easily misdiagnosed. ConclusionThe main reason for the misdiagnosis of BPPV in the aged is deficiency of knowledge of vertigo. Canalith repositioning is a safe and effective treatment for the aged with BPPV.

Key words: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), misdiagnosis, feature, treatment