As a medical journalist, I’ve spent years speaking with specialists across disciplines, but vertigo remains one of the most misunderstood conditions among patients. To better understand how balance disorders are evaluated and treated in a real-world clinical setting, I recently visited Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri West, Mumbai, where I interviewed Dr. Shama S. Kovale, a senior ENT consultant widely recognized as a vertigo specialist doctor in Mumbai. The conversation offered a grounded look into how structured diagnosis, patient education, and evidence-based ENT care intersect in one of India’s leading tertiary hospitals.
Dr. Shama S. Kovale: Qualifications and Clinical Experience
According to clinical information published by Voice of ENT, Dr. Shama S. Kovale is a qualified ENT surgeon with an MBBS and MS in ENT, backed by years of focused clinical experience in otology, neurotology, and balance disorders. Her work routinely involves diagnosing and managing vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus, and hearing-related conditions that often overlap and complicate one another.
What stood out during the interview was her emphasis on precision in diagnosis. Vertigo, she explained, is not a disease in itself but a symptom that can arise from inner-ear disorders, neurological conditions, metabolic issues, or even cervical spine problems. Her clinical experience includes managing conditions such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s disease, and vestibular migraine — each requiring a different diagnostic pathway and treatment plan.
Within Mumbai’s dense medical ecosystem, Dr. Kovale practices as both a general ENT Specialist in Mumbai and a clinician with a strong subspecialty focus on balance disorders, allowing her to evaluate vertigo from both otological and systemic perspectives.
The Clinical Environment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital functions as a multidisciplinary tertiary care center, and the ENT department reflects that structure. During my visit, the outpatient area was organized, technology-driven, and integrated with audiology and diagnostic services. This setup is particularly relevant for vertigo care, which often requires audiometric testing, vestibular assessments, and imaging support.
Dr. Kovale’s practice benefits from access to vestibular function tests and coordinated referrals when neurological or systemic causes are suspected. Rather than isolated treatment, vertigo management here appears embedded in a broader diagnostic ecosystem — something that aligns with current global best practices.
The clinical environment encourages longer consultations for complex cases, which is essential for vertigo patients who often struggle to articulate symptoms that fluctuate or appear intermittently.
How Vertigo Is Treated: Benefits and Risks
From a treatment standpoint, vertigo management varies depending on the underlying cause. Dr. Kovale outlined that for conditions like BPPV, canalith repositioning maneuvers can be highly effective and non-invasive, often resolving symptoms without medication.
Benefits of Structured Vertigo Treatment
- Targeted symptom relief rather than generalized dizziness management
- Reduced recurrence when the root cause is correctly identified
- Improved balance and daily functioning, particularly in older adults
- Avoidance of unnecessary long-term medication when physical therapy or maneuvers are sufficient
However, she was equally clear about the risks — not of treatment itself, but of misdiagnosis. Treating vertigo without confirming its origin can lead to persistent symptoms, medication side effects, or missed neurological conditions.
Potential Risks and Limitations
- Temporary symptom worsening after repositioning maneuvers
- Medication-related drowsiness or gastric discomfort
- Delayed recovery if underlying causes such as migraine or anxiety are not addressed
This diagnostic caution is a recurring theme among clinicians considered among the Best ENT Specialist in Mumbai, especially when vertigo presents alongside headaches, hearing loss, or visual disturbances.
Approximate Cost Range: A Neutral Overview
During our discussion, Dr. Kovale did not emphasize costs but acknowledged that vertigo care can vary widely depending on diagnostic needs. In Mumbai, initial ENT consultations and balance assessments generally fall within a moderate outpatient range, while advanced vestibular testing or imaging can increase overall expenses.
Treatment costs depend on:
- Number of follow-up visits
- Need for vestibular physiotherapy
- Medication duration
- Associated audiological or neurological investigations
Importantly, many vertigo treatments are outpatient-based and do not require hospitalization, which keeps costs relatively contained compared to surgical ENT procedures.
Precautions and Aftercare Advice Shared During the Interview
Aftercare, Dr. Kovale emphasized, is often underestimated in vertigo recovery. Patients are advised to follow posture-related precautions after repositioning maneuvers, avoid sudden head movements for a short period, and adhere strictly to follow-up schedules.
Other aftercare insights included:
- Maintaining hydration and regular meals
- Avoiding self-medication for dizziness
- Managing stress and sleep, especially in vestibular migraine cases
- Reporting new symptoms such as limb weakness or speech difficulty immediately
She also highlighted the importance of vestibular rehabilitation exercises in selected patients, which help retrain the brain’s balance mechanisms over time.
A Journalist’s Reflection
Spending time with Dr. Shama S. Kovale reinforced how vertigo care sits at the intersection of careful listening, clinical testing, and patient reassurance. In a city as fast-paced as Mumbai, symptoms like dizziness are often ignored or normalized until they become disruptive. Yet, as this visit illustrated, structured ENT evaluation can transform an unsettling symptom into a manageable condition — provided patients seek timely, specialized care.
For those navigating recurring dizziness or balance issues, understanding the role of a qualified vertigo specialist doctor in Mumbai may be the first step toward clarity rather than confusion.
Reflective CTA
Healthcare decisions often begin with curiosity — a question about symptoms, a search for clarity, or a need for reassurance. If vertigo or balance concerns are affecting daily life, exploring a clinical evaluation in a specialized ENT setting may offer that clarity.
📍 Clinic Address:
Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
📞 Give Us a Ring: +91-91528 50769
📧 Email: drshamakovaleent@gmail.com
