Balance Disorder Testing

For proper diagnosis of vestibular disorder the physician will need the medical history of a patient, a complete list of any medications the patient may be taking, a comprehensive list of symptoms, and an account of any recent trauma. It's also important to tell your physician if you've had any recent falls.

Traditional diagnostic tests including an MRI and CAT scan may be utilized to look for signs of physical trauma such as fractures, tumors, or tissue damage that can cause symptoms of vestibular disorder.

Objective diagnostic testing may be indicated to isolate the specific cause of the symptoms of dizziness or vertigo. The most common is ENG testing (electronystagmography) and more recently VNG (Videonystanmography). VNG / ENG examines nystagmus (eye movement) to assess the relationship between eye movement and the inner ear. The VNG / ENG may also include caloric testing, which is stimulation of the inner ear with water or air.

Posturography or Digital Balance testing are more tests which evaluate sensory and motor function by requiring the patient to stand on a platform while watching a computer screen.

The perilymph fistula test is used to detect the presence of an abnormal opening causing leakage of fluid from the inner ear to the middle ear. Varying degrees of pressure are applied to the outer ear and eye movements are monitored by a sensitive recording device.

Standard audio tests including audiometry and electrocochleography are administered to measure hearing function and may also be indicated in the diagnosis of balance disorder.