Balance Function Testing

Our balance clinic helps assess patients to determine the potential causes of dizziness, vertigo, or balance problems and to assist the physicians in recommending appropriate treatments. Our assessment and treatment program includes videonystagmography (VNG) and canalith repositioning.

The VNG evaluation is separated into three subtests:

1) Oculomotor:  In this test, measurements of the various voluntary or controlled eye movements are taken. A patient is asked to follow different patterns of dot(s) on a light bar.

2) Positional/Positioning:  During this part of the test, movement of the head and/or head and body is executed in order to monitor how the vestibular system reacts to these movements and to changes in gravity.

3) Calorics: This measurement determines how well the vestibular system responds by applying warm and cool air into each ear canal separately. Comparisons are then made of the vestibular system’s performance from one ear to the other, and whether a possible weakness may exist within the inner ear.