When dizziness or vertigo occurs, the very first thing many sufferers do is report it to their physician.  He or she will usually obtain detailed information about the dizziness, including when it began, what seems to bring it on (or make it worse or better), exactly what sensations are experienced and specific medical information.  For answers to frequently asked questions about dizziness, click here.

        Since the balance organs are located in the inner ear, a hearing evaluation typically is recommended, followed by an electronystagmographytest, or ENG.

        Although the balance organs are located in the inner ear, the entire balance system includes the brain, brainstem, eyes and sensory nerves throughout the body.  When dizziness occurs, a very clear, measurable sign of what's happening is nystagmus, an involuntary eye movement.  By stimulating the entire balance system and carefully measuring this nystagmus, your audiologist can help your physician to determine what is, or is not, causing your dizziness. ENG is the recording and measurement of eye movements.

        To complete the ENG, electrodes first are taped and pasted onto the skin around the eyes.  Then simple instructions are given for measuring voluntary and involuntary eye movement in response to different eye, head and body positions.  Testing is also performed to evaluate dizziness caused by movement.  The last part of the ENG test occasionally causes patients to experience some dizziness.  Warm and cool water is introduced to the ear canals to stimulate each balance organ independently to compare the function of each organ.

        The audiologist reports the pattern of normal and abnormal eye movements during each of these tests to the patient's physician.  In some types of dizziness, a simple 20-minute treatment that is performed here at ACA, called canalith repositioning, can result in dramatic improvement -- or even complete elimination -- of symptoms.

        Dizziness is not normal.  If you experience regular or constant dizziness or loss of balance, consult your audiologist or physician immediately.