Have you been dizzy, unbalanced, disoriented, or just not in control of your movements lately? Have you been feeling as if the room around you is spinning or moving uncontrollably? Then you might be experiencing a bout of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, also known as BPPV. BPPV is a type of vertigo that comes on suddenly & lasts for short bursts of time. It could either be a one-time experience or a recurring one, where patients continue to suffer from bouts of BPPV in specific periods of time. in this article know about the vertigo test VNG Test, ENG test, SVG Test.
Going through BPPV can be a stressful experience, especially if you are experiencing recurrent attacks. It might then help to go for a proper diagnostic test to determine the exact cause & type of your vertigo.
There are multiple types of Vertigo tests that your doctor can use to give you a correct diagnosis of your condition. An accurate diagnosis is important as it can greatly impact your vertigo treatment methods & procedures.
There are many vertigo tests used for the purpose of diagnosing vertigo. One of these is the VNG test. The VNG test is also known as the Videonystagmography test, & is used to figure out how accurately your Vestibulo Ocular Reflexes are functioning.
It functions by recording your eye movements in response to head movements with the help of tiny cameras fitted on your goggles.
A computer programme then measures the values recorded in the test with normative values, based on which the doctor can arrive at the right diagnosis.
What is the VNG test?
The VNG test, also known as the Videonystagmography test, measures the involuntary movements of your eyes, also known as nystagmus. These are often jerky movements of the eye from left to right, or up & down. In a person with a healthy VOR, there is no actual nystagmus. Sometimes, when you move or spin too quickly, or view a complicated pattern for too long, you might experience some nystagmus.
However, without any external stimulus, people with healthy VOR don’t usually have nystagmus. If you’re experiencing nystagmus without any external stimulus & any apparent reason, it’s likely that you are experiencing some vestibular issues. The VNG test helps your doctor figure out whether you have a vestibular deficit or not.
Videonystagmography test is an advanced version of the ENG test, also known as the Electronystagmography test. The ENG test uses electrodes placed on either side of the patient’s head to record their eye movements in response to the head movements.
What is the Videonystagmography test used for?
The VNG test is used to find out if your vestibular system is functioning properly based on observations regarding your nystagmus.
When do you need a Videonystagmography test?
If you’re experiencing sudden dizziness, nausea, motion sickness, & sensations of your surroundings spinning or moving out of control, then you should get a VNG test done.
Other cases where you should think about getting a VNG test are:
- If you’re feeling lightheaded while walking, moving, or sitting someplace,
- Ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus
- Feelings of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Confusion or delirium, any kind of disorientation
How is the VNG test carried out?
A VNG test is usually administered by your primary care physician, or by one of the following experts:
- An audiologist, a specialist who is able to diagnose, treat, & manage any kind of issues with hearing & hearing loss,
- An otolaryngologist, a specialist that is able to diagnose, treat, & manage any kind of illnesses or disease of the ears, nose, & throat(also known as ENT specialist)
- A neurologist, a specialist who is able to diagnose, treat, & manage any kind of illness or disorder with the brain & central nervous system.
In a VNG test, you will be sitting in a dark room with special goggles on. The goggles are fitted with tiny cameras to record your eye movements during the test. The VNG test is carried out in three parts:
- Ocular test: In this part of the vertigo test, you will be required to watch & track moving & non-moving dots on a light bar.
- Positional testing: In this part of the test, your doctor will move your head in different directions & positions. They will then look at the data to see if you experience any nystagmus.
- Caloric testing: In this part of the vertigo test, your doctor will introduce warm & cold water/air in your ears one by one to check your reflex after the action.
Usually, in a person with healthy VOR, the eyes will move away from the ears on the introduction of cold water/air, & towards the ears on the introduction of warm water/air in the ears. If your vestibular functioning is compromised, you will either have a weakened reaction to the stimulus, or no reaction at all.
What are the risks of a test of VNG?
Like all the other vertigo tests including the ENG test, the SVV test (Subjective Visual Vertical test), & the CCG test(Craniocorpography test), the VNG test can make you feel dizzy for some time afterwards. Always bring someone to drive you back home after the appointment, as you may feel dizzy while driving resulting in an accident.
How to interpret the results of the VNG?
If the VNG test returns a normal result, i.e., all the values of your eye movements with respect to the head movements, were within the normal range, then it means you have a normal functioning vestibular system. However, in case the test returns abnormal results, then it is highly likely that you have a vestibular disorder.
Depending on the exact results along with your other symptoms & medical history, your doctor might be able to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.
The conditions that are mostly responsible for an abnormal result in the VNG test include:
- BPPV: A common type of vertigo that occurs due to the tiny calcium crystals in the middle ear called otoconia, breaking loose & falling inside the semicircular canal of the inner ear. BPPV can cause sudden dizziness, sensations of spinning or moving without any external stimulus, nausea, motion sickness, lightheadedness, & general disorientation.
- Meniere’s Disease: An inner ear disorder that is caused by excess levels of fluid buildup in the inner ear. It causes dizziness, pain & feeling of pressure inside the ears, loss of balance, disorientation, nausea, motion sickness, & a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears(also known as tinnitus)
- Labyrinthitis: Labyrinthitis is an inner ear disorder that is caused by swelling or inflammation in the labyrinth. Since the inner ear is crucial to maintaining our balance & position in space, along with hearing, people with labyrinthitis have problems with balance, orientation, & often experience hearing loss.
In some cases, an abnormal VNG test result can also mean that there is an issue with the part of the brain that processes information regarding balance, hearing, & walking.
To know more about the VNG test, the ENG test, the SVV test, & the CCG test, along with other types of vertigo tests, vertigo treatment, & vertigo management therapies, visit www.neuroequilibrium.in today.
