Balance
PROVIDING DIAGNOSTICS FOR BALANCE PROBLEMS
Services for assessing balance problems in East Melbourne
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT CALL US NOWEXPERIENCING DIZZINESS?
Dizziness is a more common problem than many people think. In fact, it is the second most common complaint people bring to their doctors, after lower back pain.
A Widespread Problem
It is estimated that up to 40 percent of all adults experience dizziness severe enough to warrant reporting it to their doctors. Fortunately, most causes of dizziness are detectable and treatable, especially with today’s sophisticated computerized diagnostics, medicines and advanced surgical techniques.
A Symptom, not a Disorder
Dizziness is a symptom, not a disease, and may accompany a variety of health disorders. Most common are vestibular disorders, or problems in the inner ear, particularly in the vestibular system, which controls our sense of balance.
Causes of Dizziness
Other, less common underlying causes can be found in the central nervous system, brainstem or brain because of injury or disease. Dizziness may also be a sign of cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure or bacterial or viral infections.
THE INNER EAR & BALANCE
The balance system is located primarily in the inner ear. It is also connected with the brain and brainstem, the eyes and sensory nerves throughout the body. Each of these centres sends and receives messages that permit you to maintain your balance. When a disorder is present, the disruption of these messages causes you to feel abnormal dizziness. Diagnosing dizziness can be complex and the process usually requires a detailed medical history and examination, followed by several important diagnostic tests.
OUR TESTING PROCEDURES
Tests to Determine Ear Function
The tests we can perform include a hearing test to determine the type and amount of hearing loss, a Tympanometry assessment to gauge middle ear function and sophisticated Electrophysiological tests.
Sophisticated Electrophysiological Tests
- Electrocochleography (ECoG) which measures the response of the inner ear hair cells to a stimulus, and detects the presence of endolymphatic hydrops as in Meniere’s Disease.
- Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) which assess auditory nerve and brainstem function.
Nystagmus
One clearly measurable sign of what is going on with your balance system is a rapid, involuntary eye movement call nystagmus. By stimulating the nervous system in various ways that usually affect your balance, then by carefully measuring your eye movements using Videonystagmography (VNG), we can detect abnormalities in your vestibular system. Electronystagmography (ENG) is an alternative which records eye movements from electrical signals.