Videonystagmography “V” using video and an infrared camera, “N” nystagmus or involuntary eye movements, “G” to graph measurements. The use of video goggles accurately documents eye movement using infrared signals. With this technology we can not only measure the eye movements, but we can see them and capture video of their movement.
Your eye movements are directly related to what your inner ear (semicircular canals) is doing. They are the window into the function of the balance system. During the test you will be asked to follow a light with your eyes while the movements of your eyes are being monitored. Then you will be moved in different simple body positions to determine if your balance system is responding normally. Finally the audiologist will present cool and warm air to your ear canals. This will give you a sensation of spinning for a short time while your eye movements are being recorded. This test helps us to determine how well your vestibular systems are functioning. The audiologist will analyze the test and send the results to the referring physician for review.
ABR (auditory brainstem response)
Auditory Brainstem Response is an test that allows us to verify the integrity of your 8th cranial nerve, the auditory-vestibular nerve. During this examination, electrodes will be affixed to the skin on the forehead and behind each ear. You will lie comfortably on the exam table and hear loud clicking sounds. There is no response required from you. The audiologist will be obtaining valuable information regarding the status of your 8th nerve on each side and will send the results to your referring physician for review.
Treatment of Positional Vertigo
Positional vertigo is the most common, and most misdiagnosed, form of true spinning vertigo. Particles in the vestibular system called otoliths (or “crystals”) become dislodged and enter another portion of the vestibular organ. This causes brief true spinning vertigo that occurs with head and body positional changes. The treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, BPPV, is a simple series of head and body positions performed by the doctor of Audiology. It is important that we can verify the side and location of the dislodged particles to utilize the correct repositioning treatment for you. The procedure only takes a few minutes to complete and most patients only require one treatment to completely resolve their positional vertigo. Unfortunately, this procedure is not covered by insurance when the audiologist performs it, so there is an out of pocket expense.
VEMP (vestibular evoked myogenic potentials)
The vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is a diagnostic test used to evaluate the health of specific balance organs and associated nerves. It is usually used in a battery of other tests (VNG, ECOG, ABR and/or a hearing test) to determine where your dizziness may be coming from. This test is completed by recording and measuring muscle responses from the neck or just below the eye while a loud clicking sound is played in the ears. Even if your hearing loss prohibits you from hearing the test sound, normal responses can be recorded. The tester will clean the skin of your neck, forehead, sternum (chest) and under the eyes. Small surface electrodes will be affixed to the skin in these areas. Earphones will be placed in each ear canal. You will lie comfortably on the exam table and turn and raise your head while the sound is played in the ear for up to a minute at a time. In addition, you may be asked to focus your eyes upward on a specified location while the sound is being played in the ear. The computer will record several responses from each ear. The audiologist will analyze the test and send the results to the referring physician for review.
