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Tests & Procedures | Overview

Some of the testing we provide includes:

  • Active Head Rotation (AHR) test: A patient moves their head horizontally or vertically at viable speeds while maintaining their visual focus on a fixed target in the front. This test helps to evaluate the patient’s ability to use their vestibulo-ocular reflex (instinctive eye movements in response to head movement) efficiently, in order to maintain visual stability at fast speeds of head movement.
  • Caloric test: A patient's eyes are measured with goggles that have small cameras in them while their outer ear is filled with either warm/cool air or water. This test helps to evaluate how the balance function in the inner ear is working.
  • Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) test: A patient moves their head to the left or right/up or down at certain speeds while reading an eye chart. This test helps to detect and lateralize any vestibulo-ocular reflex (instinctive eye movements in response to head movement) deficits.
  • Electronystagmography (ENG) and Videonystagmography (VNG) tests: A patient wears video goggles and we measure their eye movement while they look at and follows visual targets. This helps to evaluate how the balance areas of the brain are working.
  • Posturography ("posture platform") test: A patient stands on a platform and we measure how stable they are in different conditions (e.g. with their eyes open or closed) and in response to small movements of the platform. This test helps to evaluate the cause of imbalance.
  • Rotational chair test: A patient sits in a chair in a small dark room, and their eye movements are measured with video goggles while the chair rotates fairly slowly. This test helps to evaluate how the balance function in the ears is working.
  • Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) test: A patient sits in a dark room and uses a remote control to adjust a laser projection line to their perceived horizontal/vertical position. This test is used to evaluate the function of the utricle, another otolith sensor in the inner ear.
  • Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) test: A patient sits in a chair and turns their head in certain directions while listening to sounds presented through earphones. Their neck muscle activities are recorded by electrodes placed on their head and neck. This test is primarily used to evaluate the function of the saccule, an otolith sensor in the inner ear.
  • Video-Head Impulse Test (vHit): A patient wears a glasses-like video goggle and maintains their visual focus on a fixed target while the examiner makes some small but quick movements of your head. This test helps to evaluate a patient's vestibular function of all semicircular canals. We use a state-of-the-art device that is non-invasive and well-tolerated by children who can follow basic instructions.
  • Visual vestibular interaction test: A patient wears video goggles and either rotates slowly and/or looks at different visual patterns or targets. This test helps to evaluate the balance centers in the brain.

Licensed audiologists or trained and supervised technicians perform these tests. The results will be interpreted by the audiologist and verified by our physician. Once the cause of the vestibular issue has been established, an individualized treatment plan will be developed.