Vestibular Diagnostics and Therapy

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The vestibular, or balance system, is a sensory apparatus located in the inner ear. It's purpose is to give you balance, allow you to see clearly while moving, and to provide spatial orientation. 

Breakdowns in the vestibular system can lead to vertigo, dizziness, involuntary eye movement or the perception of movement or of the world moving around you.  Up to 35% of adults 40 years and older – over 6 million Canadians – have a vestibular problem at some point in their lives. Vertigo most commonly occurs when there’s an issue with the inner ear, but can also be cause by conditions affecting the brain, like a tumor or stroke. 

80% of patients with the symptom of vertigo have an inner ear disorder. However, in the case of severe vertigo where you are unable to walk unassisted, nausea, and/or vomiting, seek immediate medical attention (go to the hospital). 

Whether you've experienced one attack of vertigo or have persistent dizziness or imbalance, a vestibular assessment will identify the specific region of the vestibular system where the breakdown has occurred, allowing for targeted treatments and improved outcomes. 

Vestibular diagnostics and therapy are now available privately in Victoria. Following an extensive review of your medical history and your vertigo symptoms, an appropriate battery of testing will be determined. Tests performed may include:

• Videonystagmography (VNG) utilizes goggles equipped to monitor eye movement in order to measure the health of nerves in your brain that control eye movements, hearing and balance.
• Hearing assessment since the disruptions to the balance system can impact auditory function, as the two systems share the neural pathway to the brain.
• Caloric reflex stimulation is a test of the vestibulo-ocular reflex that involves circulating cold or warm air through the ear canal.
• Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT) provides information on how effectively the three semicircular canals inside the inner ear detect head movements. The VNG goggles are worn to monitor your eye movements while the audiologist puts your head in different positions.
• Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMPs) provide information about how the  inner ear’s two otolith organs (saccule and utricle) function which electrodes on your neck while you turn your head to the right and left.

The audiologist will interpret your test results and recommend follow up. A report will be sent to your physician, recommending medical treatment if indicated, 

Sometimes, a repositioning maneuver can be performed, providing almost immediate relief of symptoms. In other cases, a customized program to exercise and 'rewire' is provided and follow up appointments are scheduled to ensure ongoing progress.