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Our ability to maintain balance requires cooperation between three systems in our body; vestibular (found in our inner ear); somatosensory (information we receive from sensations our skin, muscles and joints); and vision. The information from these systems helps us perform daily activities such as reaching for something in the kitchen, going for a walk or playing cards.
Balance problems ranging from dizziness to unsteadiness are very common and result from numerous conditions. Without treatment, balance disorders can impact quality of life and disrupt daily living.
University Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists offers a wide range of comprehensive balance and vestibular tests to evaluate functional disabilities caused by balance disorders. We offer the following balance testing:
Videonystagmography (VNG)
Videonystagmography provides an objective measurement of your inner ear balance system. The test records your eye movements to evaluate the interaction between your inner ear balance system and the muscles that control your eye movements. During this test, you will wear goggles that will examine your eye movement in certain situations. These include:
- Following a red light with only your eyes.
- Moving into different head positions (either rapidly or gently) such as lying on your back with your head to the right or left.
- Experiencing warm and cool water in your ears. A small tube is placed in the opening of your ear and water trickles in your ears (one ear at a time) for thirty seconds. A small basin by your ear catches the water. After the water stops, you will be asked to answer some simple questions (name objects in a kitchen, name animals that begin with a certain letter, etc.). Some people feel like they are rolling during this test. The simple questions distract your mind from that feeling. The rolling sensations will only last as long as you are being tested — two minutes per ear.
Platform Posturography
Platform posturography determines whether you can stay upright under conditions that that challenge your entire balance system. These conditions may include asking you to stand still while your eyes are closed, or asking you to stand still while a platform machine gently moves the floor you are standing on. For this test, you will be placed in a safety harness and loosely connected to a platform machine.
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMPS)
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials uses a clicking sound to measure a signal from your neck muscle. This signal is related to your balance system.
For this test, you will sit upright in a chair. The audiologist will clean a small area on your forehead, neck and collarbone by using a cleaning solution called OmniPrep. Surface electrodes will be placed on the cleaned skin. The audiologist will place insert earphones, which are small earplugs, into each of your ears.
Once the electrodes and earplugs are properly placed, the audiologist will ask you to lean your head to the right side, so that you are stretching your neck. When your head is in place, the audiologist will send a clicking sound to your left ear. The audiologist will then repeat these steps with the other ear. You do not have to respond to the clicking sounds; the computer will do the work.
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