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.
Assessing a patient's balance organs by examining their eye movements
using video goggles
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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.
Challenging a patient's balance by asking them to balance on a cushion
with their eyes closed
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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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