Clinical

We offer the following diagnostic testing including:

• Videonystagmography/Electronystagmography (VNG/ENG)
  • This test tells us, among other things, whether both inner ears of balance are equally strong. For this test we ask the patient to follow some moving lights with their eyes. The patient will also be guided through a series of head and body positions (such as laying down like when getting in bed). Lastly, the patient will have warm or cool water trickled in their ear canal while eye movements are recorded. This test lasts about one hour.
     

• Rotary Chair
  • This test has the patient sitting in a computerized swivel chair. The patient wears a pair of video goggles which record eye movements as the chair swivels back and forth. This test is tolerated very well and takes about 30 minutes to complete.
     

• Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP)
  • This test provides us with information regarding the function of specific organs and nerves in your inner ear of balance, or vestibular, system. The patient lays in a chair in a reclined position, then sound is played through earphones. While the sound is playing, the patient will lift their head or their eyes for short periods of time. These tests can last about 30 minutes.
     

     
 

• Video Head Impulse Testing (vHIT)
  • This test has the patient sitting in a chair, wearing video goggles (seen in the picture below-- they fit like swimming goggles). The patient watches a target that does not move. The examiner gently turns or rotates the patient's head in short movements while the eyes are recorded. This test takes about 10 minutes to complete.

• Risk of Falls evaluation
  • This is a multidimensional assessment of factors that are known to be predictive of patients who are likely to sustain injurious falls in the future. This may include a vision screening, blood pressure screening, or other screening tests. Diagnostic testing of the inner ear of balance or vestibular system is also completed. The full evaluation can last up to 3 hours.
     

• Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP)
  • This test examines how the patient's vision, touch sensation in the feet, and inner ears of balance contribute to dizziness or unsteadiness. During this test, the patient will stand barefoot facing a partition and stay as steady as possible. There are various short conditions. This test can take up to 15 minutes to complete.