Which condition is often mistaken for vertigo due to temperature differences?

Caloric vertigo is a phenomenon that can be induced by temperature differences, particularly when the vestibular system is exposed to varying temperatures through the ear. This is often tested in medical evaluations by irrigating the ear canal with warm or cold water, which stimulates the vestibular system and can produce vertiginous sensations.

In scenarios involving temperature change—such as diving—when one ear may experience differing temperatures from the surrounding water, it can lead to sensations that resemble vertigo. These sensations may result from the resulting imbalances in the inner ear, where the function of one side of the vestibular system is altered compared to the other.

While conditions such as middle ear squeeze and sinus squeeze can lead to discomfort or pain, they do not primarily cause the sensation of spinning or dizziness associated with vertigo. Reverse squeeze pertains to pressure occurring in a way that does not involve differential temperature influences on the vestibular system. Thus, caloric vertigo stands out as the condition most closely associated with the specific effects of temperature differences leading to vertiginous symptoms.