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If you have a problem with your balance, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor can ask the Audiology Department to perform a vestibular (balance) assessment, which can help diagnose the cause of the problem. 

 

How long does the vestibular assessment take?

 

The vestibular assessment takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete.

 

 

 

What is involved in a vestibular assessment?

 

After taking a medical history, during a vestibular assessment, the audiological scientist will perform a range of tests. These involve both observation and measurement of the patient's eye movements, which are measured either by using a camera - containing goggles, or by placing recording electrodes around the eyes. This allows us to record the eye movements onto a computer for later analysis. 

 

Most of the tests simply involve the patient following the movement of a small red light on a screen in front of them. These look mainly at the function of the balance pathways between the balance organ in the ears and the eye. The final test involves a small amount of either water or air being put into each ear in turn. This allows the balance function of each ear to be assessed independently, and helps the audiological scientist to determine whether the patient's balance problem is the result of an asymmetry in the balance function of the ears.

 

 

What is vestibular rehabilitation?

 

Some patients who have balance problems might benefit from a specific type of exercise therapy.  Unfortunately, this treatment is not suitable for all types of dizziness or balance problem. Those patients who can be helped by this treatment are seen by both an audiological scientist and a physiotherapist who will look at the patient's balance problem in detail. Most patients will be given simple exercises to do at home and will then be followed up by the physiotherapist who will change these exercises as necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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