A Clear Guide to TIA
Rapid Evaluation for TIA
Sudden dizziness, hearing loss, or imbalance? Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) are common, especially over 50, and often resolve quickly, not usually a lasting threat. At Harley AVM, we evaluate vestibular impact expertly. Seek urgent AVM care for speech issues, weakness, vision loss, or confusion; these warning signs signal stroke risk needing immediate action.
Transient Disruption of Brain Blood Flow
An Overview of TIA
A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is a short-lived interruption of blood flow to part of the brain. Symptoms appear suddenly and may include dizziness, imbalance, weakness, speech difficulty, or visual disturbance, but resolve completely within minutes or hours. Unlike a stroke, a TIA does not cause permanent brain damage, but it is a serious warning sign.
TIAs occur when a blood vessel supplying the brain becomes temporarily blocked or narrowed. Although symptoms settle, the underlying risk remains. Because balance disturbance or dizziness can be part of a TIA, especially in posterior circulation events, prompt recognition is critical. Early assessment allows urgent investigation and treatment to reduce the risk of a future stroke.
Pinpointing the Cause
Diagnosing TIA
When to Get Checked
You should get assessed urgently if sudden dizziness or imbalance occurs alongside weakness, numbness, speech difficulty, facial drooping, or visual disturbance, even if symptoms resolve quickly. Any brief neurological episode without a clear explanation requires immediate medical review.
You should seek emergency assessment if symptoms recur, worsen, or include difficulty walking, confusion, severe headache, or loss of consciousness. Early evaluation after a suspected TIA is critical, as timely treatment significantly reduces the risk of a full stroke.
How We Assess TIA
At Harley Audiovestibular Clinic, our process begins with a senior audiovestibular clinician taking your detailed history, capturing episode timing, transient symptoms like dizziness, hearing changes, imbalance, and vascular risk factors to identify TIA patterns affecting vestibular or auditory systems. We prioritise unhurried consultations with our consultants, ensuring a personalised understanding of your episodes.
We proceed with neurological exams, audiometry, vestibular tests, imaging, and vascular studies to confirm the diagnosis precisely, ruling out alternatives. Our senior clinicians review these collaboratively for precise, comprehensive insights. This specialised pathway sets us apart, guiding preventive strategies and rehabilitation that reduce stroke risk and restore balance effectively.
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DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
Specialist Tests to Assess Hearing, Balance and Inner Ear Health
Harley Street Specialists in Hearing, Dizziness & Balance
Specialist Care for TIA
Every TIA case is different. Your consultant will create a tailored plan to address your specific symptoms and lifestyle – when it started, how it affects your day, and which tests and treatments are right for you.