Vestibular (Balance Assessments)

If you have any problems regarding your balance, we advise you to see your General Practitioner who will refer you to an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist. If needed, you will then be referred onto us for further testing.

What do our Vestibular Assessments involve?

Our vestibular assessments look into individual balance problems that a patient may experience. The assessments we carry out usually take around 2 hours.

We will start by taking a detailed history of your balance problems and perform a number of balance tests.

One of these tests observes your eye movements whilst you focus on a small red light that is moving on a screen in front of you.

Sensors will be placed around your eyes to record your eye movements. The results will be able to show how the balance pathways are working between your eyes and your balance system.

Another test which is used is the caloric test which assesses the balance function of each ear independently.

Each ear is tested by running water into the ear canal (7 degrees above and below body temperature), into each ear for 30 seconds. By doing this, the audiologist can compare the left and right responses by looking at the eye movements which have been recorded by the sensors.

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Many patients who suffer from balance problems benefit from exercises specifically designed to help combine head and body movements with their eyes. Patients who are appropriate for this treatment, will be given exercises to carry out at home.

These exercises need to be carried out several times a day, until the vestibular problems have settles down.

The ENT consultant who originally referred you will then monitor your progress and take medical action if necessary.

Hinchingbrooke Hospital

Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon
Cambs PE29 6NT

Hinchingbrooke Direct:

01480 416416

Email:

info@hinchingbrooke.nhs.uk

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