The Tampa Bay Hearing and Balance Center evaluates people with a variety of balance disorders. The dizzy patient evaluation protocol at the Tampa Bay Hearing and Balance Center is organized into several segments.
Functional Hearing and Balance Assessment
A trained vestibular technician obtains a detailed history of the dizziness symptoms and performs a number of functional balance tests. Among the functional assessments are ability to stand eyes-open, eyes-closed, ability to walk, ability to maintain balance on cushions, ability to maintain balance with visual confusion, and gait testing. Other tests include ability to read an eye chart with head movement, ability to keep the eyes focused during rapid head turns, and symptoms of dizziness during lying-to-sitting and sitting-to-lying action. Other general measures are evaluated, as well. If hearing loss is present, a detailed hearing test is completed.
Physician Examination, Diagnosis, and Plan of Action
When the above information is available, the physician will review all data, obtain more detailed history, and complete the physical examination. The physician considers the possible diagnoses, explains them, and orders any additional tests that seem appropriate.
Diagnostic Testing
Among the additional tests that may be ordered are: VENG (video electronystagmography) attempts to determine if dizziness is due to inner ear or brain/other disease. The test checks how the eyes move as a reflex to balance system stimulation. Rotation testing: VAT (vestibular autorotation testing) assesses the accuracy of eye movements during head rotation at various frequencies. ABR (auditory brainstem responses) testing checks associated hearing pathways from the inner to the brain since, when the balance system is abnormal, the hearing may also be abnormal. Electrocochleography (EcoG) checks ratios of inner ear and hearing nerve output. The ratio is commonly too high in Ménière's disease, indicative of elevated inner ear fluid pressure. Other tests such as an MRI and a CT Scan may be ordered.