What is balance and dizziness testing?
Balance and dizziness tests are noninvasive exams that evaluate symptoms of balance disorders. A balance disorder, or vestibular disorder, usually results from a problem with your inner ear or central nervous system.
Your vestibular system is made up of tiny organs inside your ear that sense how your head moves. The organs send signals to nerves in your brain to help you maintain visual focus, balance, and posture. You may feel dizzy or off balance when your vestibular system doesn’t work properly.
At Penn Medicine, we understand that dizziness and other balance problems can make it hard to work, exercise, and enjoy life. They can also put you at risk for dangerous falls, which is why it’s so important to get testing and treatment as soon as possible.
For more than three decades, our Audiology, Hearing, and Balance specialists have been recognized throughout the region for their ability to diagnose and treat even the most complex vestibular disorders. We offer leading-edge tests and the latest therapies to restore your balance and peace of mind.
Types of vestibular tests
A vestibular test battery, or vestibular testing, is a series of tests that assesses how well your vestibular system works. An audiologist performs the tests and uses the results to diagnose balance disorders such as:
CDP measures how your eyes, ears, nerves, and muscles work together to help you maintain balance while standing. During the test, you stand on a platform. We check your balance when the platform is still and moving, and when your eyes are open and closed.
A rotational chair test, or rotary chair test, measures coordination between your inner ear and eyes when you’re in motion. You sit in a motorized chair that turns from side to side at different speeds. You wear special goggles that record your eye movements.
VEMP evaluates the parts of your inner ear that regulate your body’s orientation in space, or how you position your body in relation to your environment. Electrodes attached to your head and neck record muscle movements as you turn and lift your head.
VNG uses video goggles to track how your brain signals eye movements. A similar test called electronystagmography (ENG) uses electrodes instead of goggles. We evaluate how your eyes move when you look at different targets and move your head or body. VNG and ENG detect nystagmus (uncontrolled, jerky eye movements), a common symptom of balance disorders.
VHIT evaluates how well you focus your vision as your head moves. The test can tell us if there’s a problem with the canals inside your inner ear. You wear goggles and look at a stationary target. The goggles record your visual field as you rotate your head from side to side.
Some balance disorders also cause hearing loss or tinnitus. Hearing evaluations, or audiometry, help us measure how well you hear sounds and words at different pitches and loudness. Most hearing tests use earphones, but some use electrodes to measure how nerves respond to sounds.
We may use imaging exams to check the bones and soft tissue inside your ear. An MRI or CT scan can help us locate abnormal growths, tumors, fractures, infections, and other conditions that can affect your balance.
Who needs balance and dizziness testing?
We may recommend balance testing if you have:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Head movement intolerance
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Problems walking
- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears) or hearing loss
- Unsteadiness
- Vertigo (spinning sensation)
- Vision problems
Balance and dizziness testing: what to expect
Balance testing begins with a thorough review of your symptoms and medical history. We also ask you questions about how often you feel dizzy, if there are certain movements or activities that trigger dizziness, and how dizziness affects your life. We use this information to select the right tests for your needs. Depending on the number of tests you need, the process may take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.
In most cases, you don’t have to do anything special to prepare for balance and dizziness testing. Your care team will give you instructions about how to get ready. If you take medication for dizziness, it’s important not to take it on the day of your appointment. Your health-care provider will let you know if there are other medications you should avoid before testing.
Additional tips to prepare for vestibular testing include:
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after testing.
- Don’t drink alcohol for 48 hours before testing.
- Don’t eat for two hours before testing.
- Don’t wear eye makeup or contact lenses.
- Wear comfortable clothing.
Some people have a headache, nausea, or dizziness for a short time after vestibular testing. Your reaction will depend on the tests you have and your underlying condition. Tell your care team if you feel sick during or after testing so they can help you feel more comfortable.
Regional leaders in balance and dizziness diagnosis and treatment
Penn Medicine's Balance and Dizziness Center is among the most comprehensive programs in the region for diagnosing and treating vestibular disorders. A team of otorhinolaryngologists, audiologists, neuro-otologists, physical therapists, and other specialists work together to deliver seamlessly coordinated care.
We treat more people than any other center in the area, giving us a unique depth of expertise and the ability to address common and complex balance problems. Our treatments include medical therapy, surgery, and vestibular rehabilitation, all tailored to your needs and goals to help you stay as independent and safe as possible.
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