Navigating Dizziness & Vertigo
If you are struggling with dizziness & vertigo, you are not alone. They are among the most frequent complaints heard by healthcare providers today. Because they can be triggered by so many different factors, finding the root cause can often feel overwhelming.
What is Vertigo? While dizziness is a general feeling of instability, vertigo is a specific sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning.
The Root of the Problem: Both dizziness & vertigo are frequently linked to the vestibular system—the intricate balance center located in your inner ear.
This system relies on fluid-filled canals and specialized organs to map out movement and gravity. When this system is disrupted or damaged, it can result in vestibular disorders, leading to the ongoing dizziness & vertigo that interrupts your daily life.
Common Symptoms
Vestibular Disorders
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Disorientation
- Motion Sickness
- Imbalance/Unsteadiness
- Increased risk of falling
- Blurred vision
- Involuntrary eye movements (Nystagmus)
- Blurred vision with head movement (Oscillopsia)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Weakness/Fatique
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Click the button below to request your appointment or consultation, or give us a call. Our team at Golden Hearing Clinic is ready to help you take the first step toward better hearing and balance.
Risk Factors for developing
Vestibular Disorders
- Age (40+ years old)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Chronic ear infections
- Diabetes
- Gender (Women)
- Hereditary factors
- History of migraine
- Infections (bacterial or viral)
- Medications (e.g., aminoglycosides,chemotherapy))
- Trauma to the ear, neck, and/or head
We have the expertise and specialized equipment needed to thoroughly evaluate the inner ear and determine its role in dizziness and balance issues.
Comprehensive Assessment
Possible Tests Include:
- Videonystagmography (VNG) Test
- Vestibular Head Impulse Test (vHIT)
- Vestibular Autorotation Test (VAT)
- Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMPS)
- Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) Test
- Dix hallpike test
- Other tests, such as the Vertebral Artery Screening Test (VAST), Cervical Dizziness Test, Head Impulse Test (HIT), Side Lying Test, and/or Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) may be performed as appropriate depending on your symptoms and case history.
Take the First Step Toward Better Hearing Today
Click the button below to request your appointment or consultation, or give us a call. Our team at Golden Hearing Clinic is ready to help you take the first step toward better hearing and balance.
Preparing for the Vestibular Evaluation
Avoid taking the following types of prescribed and over-the-counter medication within 48 hours of your appointment, as they may interfere with testing.
Medications to avoid
before evaluation:
- Anti-vertigo and anti-nausea medication (e.g., Meclizine, Antivert, Dramamine, etc.)
- Sleeping pills
- Pain medication
- Anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, and mood disorder medication
- Allergy or cold medication, with the exception of nasal sprays
- Antihistamines
If you have any hesitations regarding the temporary suspension of your medications, we recommend consulting with your prescribing doctor first. For your evaluation, please provide a comprehensive list of all current prescriptions, supplements, and over-the-counter medications.
Other
Preparations:
- Avoid alcohol, tobacco products, and illicit drugs for 48 hours prior to testing.
- Avoid high-caffeine beverages (e.g., energy drinks, espresso) the day of testing. These may affect test results.
- Provide your audiologist with prior reports and test results related to your symptoms.
- Arrange for transportation home. Even though most patients feel fine after testing, some may feel fatigued and/or a bit disoriented.
- Get a good night’s sleep. You will be required to be alert and keep your eyes open throughout much of the testing.
- You cannot wear your glasses during the test; wear contacts if you have them.
- Please arrive with your eyes completely free of makeup or false lashes. Our diagnostic equipment uses high-speed cameras to track your pupils, and dark pigments on the lashes or lids can disrupt these precise measurements. If you have tattooed eyeliner, please bring a white eyeliner pencil to temporarily mask it during the session.
- Please fast for at least two hours prior to your appointment; however, if you are diabetic, you may have a light snack. To minimize the risk of nausea during the evaluation, we also recommend keeping your fluid intake to a minimum.
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
Take the First Step Toward Better Hearing Today
Click the button below to request your appointment or consultation, or give us a call. Our team at Golden Hearing Clinic is ready to help you take the first step toward better hearing and balance.