Hearing Vertigo Diagnostic Guide Vaughan: A Resource for Referring Clinics
This exclusive Hearing Vertigo Diagnostic Guide Vaughan is prepared for our valued referring partners, including ENT Specialists, Family Physicians, and other medical clinics, to clearly outline the purpose and appropriate referral criteria for our comprehensive diagnostic hearing and balance tests. Our goal is to ensure seamless, expert care for your patients in Vaughan and Woodbridge.
Comprehensive Diagnostic Tests: A Key Part of the Hearing Vertigo Diagnostic Guide Vaughan
Videonystagmography (VNG) Test: Core Balance Assessment in the Hearing Vertigo Diagnostic Guide Vaughan
Purpose: Evaluates inner ear and central motor functions related to balance.
When to Refer: Patients reporting vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, motion sensitivity, or suspected BPPV.
BPPV Assessment (Dix-Hallpike & Repositioning)
Purpose: Diagnoses and treats canalithiasis in semicircular canals.
When to Refer: Classic positional vertigo (brief spinning dizziness when rolling in bed, bending, looking up/down). Can be confirmed with VNG and treated with Epley/Semont repositioning.
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Test: Hearing Assessment in the Hearing Vertigo Diagnostic Guide Vaughan
Purpose: Assesses hearing nerve and brainstem pathway function.
When to Refer: Sudden or asymmetric hearing loss, suspected retrocochlear pathology (e.g., acoustic neuroma), auditory neuropathy, or infants unable to complete behavioural hearing tests.
Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT)
Purpose: Measures vestibulo-ocular reflex to detect semicircular canal dysfunction.
When to Refer: Patients with acute or chronic dizziness, oscillopsia, abnormal head movement sensation, or suspected unilateral/bilateral vestibular loss.
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP)
Purpose: Assesses otolith organ (saccule, utricle) and vestibular nerve pathway function.
When to Refer: Suspected Meniere’s disease, superior canal dehiscence, unexplained imbalance, or patients with sound/pressure-induced dizziness.
Electrocochleography (EcoG)
Purpose: Measures inner ear fluid and auditory nerve activity.
When to Refer: Patients with fluctuating hearing, ear fullness/pressure, tinnitus, or suspected Meniere’s disease/endolymphatic hydrops.
Dynamic Visual Acuity Test (DVA)
Purpose: Evaluates the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) to determine how well vision is maintained during head movement.
When to Refer: Performed when patients report dizziness, oscillopsia, or suspected vestibular hypofunction to assess functional VOR performance.
Quick Reference Symptom-to-Test Guide
Use this quick guide to determine the most relevant initial test(s) based on the patient’s primary complaint:
| Patient Symptom / Complaint | Suggested Test(s) |
|---|---|
| Vertigo, dizziness, motion sensitivity | VNG, BPPV, VAT |
| Brief spinning dizziness with position changes (rolling in bed, bending, looking up/down) | BPPV (Dix-Hallpike & Repositioning), VNG |
| Sudden or asymmetric hearing loss, suspected nerve lesion | ABR, EcoG |
| Fluctuating hearing, ear fullness/pressure, tinnitus (suspected Meniere’s disease) | EcoG, VEMP, VNG |
| Dizziness with rapid head turns, oscillopsia (blurry vision with movement) | vHIT, VAT, VNG |
| Sound/pressure-induced dizziness, suspected Superior Canal Dehiscence (SCDS) | VEMP, vHIT |
| Chronic dizziness, motion-provoked visual blurring, suspected Vestibular Migraine | VNG, VAT, vHIT ± VEMP |
Important Notes for Referring Providers
- Tip for Referrers: Some patients may require more than one test (e.g., vestibular migraine or SCDS). Please check all that apply on the referral form.
- Reminder: All services are not covered under OHIP; patients may be eligible through private insurance or third-party funding.
We appreciate your trust in us. Ready to refer a patient for specialized testing using this Hearing Vertigo Diagnostic Guide Vaughan? Contact our Vaughan clinic today to discuss specific referral requirements or schedule an assessment.
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