Balance Disorders and
Inner Ear Problems
There are numerous causes of inner ear problems. Identifying the cause can be difficult. It is important to identify certain causes of inner ear problems while other causes may not be identified despite extensive testing.

Inner ear symptoms vary significantly. In some patients, symptoms are minimal. In some patients, abnormalities are only identified on hearing tests. In other patients, symptoms are obvious.

Some examples of inner ear symptoms include hearing loss, clogging of the ear, noise in the ears (tinnitus), vertigo, disequilibrium, etc.

For more information of the following Balance Disorders, please click on these links:

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Ménière's Disease

What tests are used
to evaluate my dizziness?

Auditory Brainstem Response Test (ABR)
ABR is basically a circuit test which evaluates the connections between the inner ear and central nervous system including the brain and brainstem. The test takes approximately 30 minutes. With the patient lying in a comfortable position on a table, small electrodes are placed on the forehead and behind each ear. Foam plugs are placed inside the ear canals. A clicking sound is introduced into the ear and a computer does the rest.

Videonystagmography (VNG)
VNG is a balance system test that takes approximately one hour. The patient wears lightweight goggles throughout the procedure. There are three parts to the test:
1. The first part involves following lights on a wall
2. The second part involves being placed in different positions on a table
3. The third part involves introducing warm and cold air into the ear canals.

Some individuals become dizzy for 2-5 minutes, but most are able to drive home after the test without difficulty. If you are concerned about not being able to drive afterwards, please make arrangements for someone to transport you.