Balance Disorders & Dizziness
An estimated 90 million Americans will experience dizziness at least once in their lifetime. The causes of peripheral and central vestibular disorders includes age-related multisensory deficits, strokes and vascular insufficiencies, cerebellar degeneration, chemical and drug toxicities, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, uncompensated Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, and head trauma. Balance disorders are significant risk factors for falls in individuals 65 years and older.
At Dr. Woods Hearing Center, we offer diagnostic balance and vestibular testing to identify the cause of your dizziness, so you can get back to enjoying your life again.
Vestibular Testing:
Dr. Woods Hearing Center offers the latest in diagnostic vestibular testing. With a Balance Technician on our team, you will experience the highest level of care. We offer the following testing for balance disorders.
Electro/Video-nystagmography (ENG/VNG):
Uses small electrodes over the skin around the eyes or video goggles to record eye movements. Assesses eye movements while following a moving object, when the head is placed in different positions, and with changes in temperature to the ear (with air or water).
Rotation Tests:
Video goggles or electrodes will record eye movements as the head is rotated from side to side. These include the auto head rotation, computerized rotary chair test, or a general screening test.
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP):
Evaluates whether certain vestibular organs and associated nerves are intact and functioning normally. Electrodes are attached to the skin near the eyes and neck as sound is played through earphones, which stimulates the vestibular organs and causes activation or reduction in activity of corresponding muscles.
Audiometry (Hearing Tests):
Consists of presenting words and tones at different pitches and levels, measuring the patient’s ability to distinguish these tones/words with headphones.
Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE):
Provides information about how the hair cells of the cochlea are working when a series of clicks are produced by a tiny speaker inserted into the ear canal. This is done in infants and young children.
Electrocochleography (ECog):
Utilizes an earphone which plays sound in the ear and electrodes which measure the response while a patient lies still.
Auditory Brainstem Response Test (ABR):
Measures how the nervous system responds to sound and is used when patients cannot respond to audiometry testing (infants). This test can indicate the presence of an acoustic neuroma.
Treating Balance Disorders
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) has been highly effective for most individuals with disorders of the vestibular or central balance system. In many studies, customized VRT programs were significantly more effective than generic exercises in resolving symptoms.
Depending on what caused your balance problems, our team will make a custom plan tailored to your needs. If you are experiencing symptoms of dizziness or vertigo, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Depending on what caused your balance problems, our team will make a custom plan tailored to your needs. If you are experiencing symptoms of dizziness or vertigo, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
