Which of the following is included in the '5 D's' for vertebrobasilar insufficiency?

Master Differential Diagnosis and Medical Screening in Physical Therapy. Engage with flashcards and multiple choice questions, all with detailed explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your exam today!

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency affects the brainstem and cerebellum, so the signs we look for reflect cranial nerve and coordination problems. The five D’s describe the most characteristic brainstem/cerebellar symptoms: dizziness (or vertigo), diplopia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and ataxia. Dysarthria fits this pattern because it is a motor speech disturbance arising from brainstem or corticobulbar involvement, directly matching what the mnemonic captures about vertebrobasilar territory issues.

Nystagmus can occur with brainstem signs but isn’t part of the five D’s. Photophobia and nausea are nonspecific and not central to the vertebrobasilar five D’s mnemonic. So dysarthria is the best answer because it specifically aligns with the established cluster of brainstem–related signs in this vascular territory syndrome.