Feeling Unsteady On Your Feet?

You don’t realize how important your sense of balance is until you’re hesitant to go up and down stairs after experiencing dizziness for the first time.

You may worry for your independence and safety when you leave the house, constantly anxious that you’ll fall; according to the CDC, harmful falls account for approximately one million hospitalizations across America.

If you’re concerned about your balance, or that of a loved one, you’re in the right place. Balance testing can help you get a handle on your vestibular system and get back to confident stepping, no matter where you go!

Potential Causes For Dizziness

Vision

Vision issues can lead to dizziness or vertigo.

Medication

Certain medications may cause dizziness as a side effect.

Orthopedic

Joint or bone problems can sometimes cause dizziness.

Cardiovascular

Heart or blood vessel issues may lead to dizziness.

Neurological

Brain or nerve disorders can cause dizziness symptoms.

Endocrinology

Hormonal imbalances might result in dizziness.

What To Expect At A Vestibular Test

If you’re unsure of what happens during a balance test, here’s a step-by-step guide.

#1 – Arrive At the Clinic15 Minutes Before Your Appointment

Make sure to arrive early for your appointment so we can prepare for your balance test appropriately. If you arrive too close to the scheduled time, it may have to be rearranged.

Please do not wear mascara, eyeliner, or face lotions to the clinic; these can interfere with the tests. Similarly, do not drink alcohol 24 hours prior to your appointment.

The assessment will take roughly 60 minutes to complete.

#2 – The ENG and VNG Tests

Both of these tests analyze how well your eyes adjust for your sense of balance. To better understand this, you will watch different sequences of light on a monitor in a dark room, to allow better focus.

Following the initial phase, you’ll be instructed to move in certain ways while watching the bright patterns.

#3 – The Rotary Chair Test

Your specialist will review how your eyesight performs with the rotary chair test; you’ll be moved to a mechanized chair with a headset over your eyes, which will measure how they respond to different impulses.

#4 – The Posturography Test

Next, your specialist will evaluate how well you can remain balanced while upright. For this, you’ll stand on a platform, wearing a harness, as a screen depicts a changing landscape.

The platform will move slightly, and you’ll just need to remain focused on the images in front of you for the duration.

#5 – The VEMP Test

Your muscles trigger for different sounds, so your specialist will use the VEMP test to see how your muscles react.

You’ll sit in a chair with a pair of headphones over your ears, and small sensory pads on your head and face. When you hear a specific tone, you’ll be asked to react in certain ways.

#6 – The Video Head Impulse Test

This final test will discern how your eyes adapt to sudden movement. For this, your specialist will provide you with a pair of special glasses.

As your specialist gently adjusts the position of your head, these will measure how your eyes move accordingly.

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a common condition with multiple components – if your balance test shows that you’ve been struggling with vertigo, your treatment will be tailored to help your unique needs and requirements.

Balance Mechanism

Your equilibrium relies on the interaction of your inner ear, vision, and somatosensory perception to prevent dizziness.

Impact of Imbalance

Disruptions in these components can lead to dizziness, vertigo, and balance issues, significantly affecting your quality of life.

Vertigo Prevalence

Vertigo is common and affects over 90 million Americans. Some cases resolve naturally, but others may require treatment.

Balance Assessments

What Can Cause Balance Issues?

Your balance impairment could be caused by a number of things, including hearing loss, fluid imbalances in your ears, vertigo, and more.

Take a look at the following video giving an insight into how your dizziness could be caused by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

What Our Patients Say

Hear from our patients about their experience with Clarity Hearing

Schedule Your Balance Appointment Today

For balance issues, vertigo concerns, and more, you can rely on top-tier vestibular care from a team of passionate experts that want to help you both as a patient and as a person in our Houston community.

Whether you’re looking for a balance assessment to keep tabs on your abilities or you’re on the hunt for more intensive care with all the bells and whistles, you can feel confident that we’ll provide the level of clarity you need for your health without any extras that you don’t need.

Schedule your appointment and allow our highly experienced and friendly team to assess your hearing and identify the reason for your imbalance.

Don’t want to wait? Then why not call us at your nearest office

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