Diana Mihai Coman
I am a board-certified ENT specialist with a subspecialization in neurotology and ongoing training in Positive Psychotherapy (currently in my third year). I currently practice at Nova Explorări ORL Clinic in Cluj-Napoca, where I integrate advanced vestibular diagnostics with a patient-centered and holistic clinical approach. My primary areas of focus include vertigo, imbalance, tinnitus, and hearing disorders, particularly within the context of somato-psychic interaction.
I have approximately 10 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular patients and have completed numerous advanced training courses in this field. Among the most relevant, I would mention the masterclass led by Prof. Michael Strupp in Munich, the vestibular rehabilitation training with Prof. Mans Magnusson in Copenhagen, the comprehensive hands-on course with Prof. Shrinivas, the VEMP workshop with Prof. Eleftherios Papathanasiou, and the AVISA International Vestibular Diploma program. These trainings have helped me consolidate both my theoretical knowledge and my practical skills in managing peripheral, central, and functional vestibular disorders.
I have also served as a lecturer within the AVISA program, delivering a course on vestibular migraine, as well as at the IFOS World Congress in Dubai, where I co-led a workshop on vestibular rehabilitation in chronic bilateral vestibulopathies. In 2024, I presented a clinical poster on Chiari malformation at the Bárány Society Meeting. Additionally, I have given numerous national presentations and actively contribute to the Romanian Society for Vertigo, Tinnitus, and Hearing Loss, of which I am a founding member.
Over the past three years, I have increasingly focused on Positive Psychotherapy, aiming to better understand how personality traits and psycho-emotional background influence both the etiology and the perception of vertigo-related symptoms. This integrative perspective is becoming a central part of my approach to complex vestibular patients.
Sessions
Diagnostic Challenges panel discussion general
This proposal presents a series of real-life clinical cases that illustrate common diagnostic errors and challenges encountered in neurotology. Despite major advances in vestibular testing and imaging, clinicians still face significant difficulties in accurately differentiating between peripheral and central causes of vertigo, as well as functional and psychogenic components. The cases selected reflect typical pitfalls seen in everyday clinical practice, such as misdiagnosis of vestibular migraine as Menière’s disease, misinterpretation of pseudospontaneous nystagmus in cupulolithiasis-type BPPV, and diagnostic complexity in multicanal BPPV with overlapping otolithic debris. Additionally, we explore a case of delayed compensation in vestibular neuritis despite early and correct treatment, suggesting the possibility of hidden pathophysiological factors.
Through this structured case-based approach, we aim to emphasize the importance of systematic clinical reasoning, detailed positional testing, and reassessment in patients who do not follow the expected recovery pattern. These cases serve not only as learning tools, but also as a starting point for discussing broader diagnostic strategies in neurotology, encouraging clinicians to adopt a flexible and integrative perspective
Novel Approaches general panel discussion
We propose a hypothesis-generating observational study that explores the relationship between obsessive-compulsive (OC) personality traits and the severity of vertigo-related anxiety in patients with common peripheral vestibular disorders. Despite similar vestibular test results, some patients report disabling dizziness, while others cope more easily — suggesting that psychological traits may act as symptom amplifiers. This proposed study will include patients diagnosed with BPPV, vestibular neuritis, or Menière’s disease. Each participant will complete validated instruments including the Vertigo Handicap Inventory (VHI), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, and the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R). We will analyze the correlation between obsessive-compulsive traits and reported anxiety intensity, adjusting for diagnosis and vestibular dysfunction severity. We believe that identifying psychological vulnerability in vestibular patients can lead to earlier, individualized management strategies — including integration of cognitive-behavioral therapy in selected cases.