Balance Issues, Testing, and Treatment
Balance problems can show up in many ways such as dizziness, light headedness, unsteadiness, or the feeling that the room is spinning even when you’re standing still. These symptoms can come on without warning and get in the way of your everyday activities.
Your balance depends on several systems working together, including the inner ear, vision, sensory nerves, and the brain. The inner ear, in particular, plays a major role in helping your brain process movement and spatial orientation.
Common Balance Disorders
Balance disorders affect about 33 million adults in the United States. Some of the most common include:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
The most frequent cause of balance issues, BPPV occurs when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become dislodged. It’s often triggered by simple head movements like rolling over, bending down, or looking up.
Ménière’s Disease
This condition involves fluid buildup in the inner ear, causing episodes of vertigo along with hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
Labyrinthitis and Vestibular Neuritis
These involve inflammation or infection in the inner ear or balance nerve, often following a cold or virus. Symptoms may include vertigo, imbalance, and sometimes hearing loss.
Other possible causes of imbalance include medication side effects, migraines, head injuries, vision problems, or age-related balance changes.
Symptoms That May Benefit from Balance Testing
You could be a good candidate for balance testing if you experience:
- Dizziness or a floating sensation
- Spinning episodes (vertigo)
- Feeling unsteady while walking or standing
- Falls or near-falls
- Difficulty moving in low-light conditions
- Increased motion sensitivity
- Blurred or “bouncy” vision when turning your head
What Does Balance Testing Do?
Balance testing can help uncover the source of your balance issues by:
- Identifying whether the inner ear is contributing to your symptoms
- Differentiating between positional and non-positional dizziness
- Clarifying patterns that may explain when symptoms occur
- Supporting coordination with other providers when needed
Balance testing is non-invasive and designed to be as comfortable as possible. Depending on your symptoms, this testing may involve:
- Observing eye movements in response to head or body position changes
- Assessing how balance responds to visual or surface changes
- Evaluating how quickly balance systems adapt
Common Balance Tests
Videonystagmography (VNG)
VNG uses infrared goggles to track eye movements while your head and body move through specific positions. Because eye motion and the inner ear are closely connected, this test helps us detect:
- Inner ear dysfunction
- Central (brain-based) balance concerns
- Abnormal responses to positional changes
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP)
VEMP, a non-invasive test measuring inner ear and nerve function, is often used with VNG to provide a comprehensive evaluation of dizziness and imbalance. It involves the use of surface electrodes to measure your neck or eye muscle responses to sound. As you listen for clicking sounds through earphones, you may be asked to tighten your neck muscles or look up as we assess your response.
Video Head Impulse Testing (vHIT)
vHIT evaluates all six semicircular canals of the inner ear. Using lightweight goggles, we gently guide your head through quick, controlled movements to assess how well your eyes stabilize during motion. This test helps identify:
- Weakness in one or both inner ears
- Reduced ability to maintain visual focus during movement
Caloric Testing
Caloric testing uses warm and cold water or air to stimulate the inner ear, which helps us check for possible vestibular system deficits that could be causing issues with balance and dizziness. By creating a feeling of movement that triggers an involuntary eye response called nystagmus, this testing helps identify peripheral vestibular weakness or damage to the vestibular nerve.
Personalized Care & Treatment
Your results guide a customized care plan, which may include:
- Vestibular rehabilitation exercises
- Balance retraining referrals
- Lifestyle and safety recommendations
- Coordination with physicians, physical therapists, or other healthcare professionals when appropriate
Follow-up visits allow us to monitor progress and adjust care as needed.
Treatment for BPPV
If your dizziness is caused by BPPV, we can perform or teach you the Epley maneuver. This is a series of gentle head movements that reposition the displaced crystals in your inner ear, often providing fast relief.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Contact us at Active Hearing Health, Omaha, NE today to schedule a balance evaluation and find out what’s behind your dizziness. With expert care from our team of specialists, you can regain your stability and your confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Balance Testing
What is balance testing designed to evaluate?
Balance testing evaluates how well the systems responsible for stability are working together, including the inner ear, vision, sensory nerves, and the brain.
Why can balance problems feel so confusing or inconsistent?
Balance relies on constant communication among multiple systems. When one system sends inaccurate or delayed signals, dizziness or unsteadiness can occur, sometimes without warning.
Does balance testing help identify the cause of dizziness?
Balance testing helps determine whether the inner ear may be contributing to symptoms and clarifies patterns related to movement, position, or visual input.
What kinds of symptoms might lead to balance testing?
Balance testing may be recommended for people who experience:
- Spinning or vertigo
- Unsteadiness while walking
- Lightheadedness with movement
- Difficulty maintaining balance in low light
What happens during balance testing?
Testing may involve observing eye movements, evaluating balance responses during movement, or assessing how the body adapts to changes in position. All testing is non-invasive and designed for comfort.