A new diagnostic test
Hearing and balance are correlated: in patients with vertigo, the relationship can be used to diagnose balance problems. Generally, a "VEMP" test (Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials, or "the myogenic evoked potentials induced by high intensity sounds") is carried out: it uses intense sounds to induce a muscular contraction of the muscles of the neck and eyes, triggered through the vestibular system – the system responsible for our balance. But current VEMP methods have major drawbacks and can lead to permanent hearing loss and discomfort for patients: "This test is like a machine gun close to the ear." Today,
The new vibrating device is placed behind the patient's ear. It is small and compact, and optimized to deliver a sound level sufficient to trigger reflex at frequencies as low as 250 Hz. During bone conduction, sound waves are transformed into vibrations through the skull, stimulating the cochlea in the ear, in the same way as when sound waves normally pass through the ear canal, eardrum and middle ear. “Using this bone conduction technology, the sound levels that patients are exposed to can be reduced to a minimum, to a maximum sound level of 75 decibels, which is 40 decibels less than the current method.
What advantages?
The test is safer for children as well as for patients with hearing problems related to chronic ear infections or birth defects of the ear canal and middle ear, which may be origin of vertigo;
the vibrating device is compatible with standardized equipment for the diagnosis of balance in health care departments, which makes it very simple to use;
its cost is lower than that of the material currently used.
First results of efficacy:
while a pilot study has already brought first positive results, a larger study with patients is now planned, in collaboration with the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, with a control group of 30 participants free from hearing impairment.
What tests are done to diagnose vertigo?
What is a balance test for vertigo?
The videonystagmography (VNG) test is a balance test used to evaluate problems with balance and equilibrium such as vertigo. Considered the gold standard for balance testing, during a VNG test goggles are placed on the patient with cameras above each eye. These cameras record all eye movements throughout testing.
Do you need an MRI to diagnose vertigo?
MRI is preferred over CT due to its superiority in visualizing the posterior fossa, which is often the location for a central etiology of vertigo. MRI will rule out acute and chronic ischemic disease, cerebellopontine lesions such as vestibular schwannomas and meningiomas, as well as multiple sclerosis.
How is loss of balance diagnosed?
Can a neurologist diagnose balance problems?
Our neurologists and neurosurgeons diagnose and treat balance dysfunction that is the result of neurologic disorders or neurologic impairment. While the vast majority of balance problems are caused by problems with the inner ear, there may be neurological causes for balance disorders which require neurological care.
What disease causes loss of balance?
Certain conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or problems with your vision, thyroid, nerves, or blood vessels can cause dizziness and other balance problems.
Can a CT scan diagnose vertigo?
As the authors note, a negative CT result does not exclude a central cause for vertigo, and CT has a low sensitivity for ischemic stroke. CT is not a good first-line test for vertigo, and patients deemed to require imaging should undergo MRI.
Can a brain scan show vertigo?
MRI of the brain shows relevant findings in a reasonable proportion of patients presenting with acute vertigo, which helps in making a correct diagnosis and planning appropriate treatment.
How does a neurologist diagnose vertigo?
Diagnosing Vertigo
Depending on the suspected cause, those tests may include: Eye movement testing: Eye movement testing watches the path of the eyes when someone is tracking an object in motion. It may also be done after a doctor places water or air into the ear canal. VNG: VNG is short for videonystagmography.
What is the best test for balance?
The Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) serves as a 36-item clinical balance assessment tool, developed to assess balance impairments across six contexts of postural control: mechanical constraints, limits of stability, APAs, postural response to induced loss of balance, sensory orientation, and gait.
Can MRI detect balance disorder?
Sensor pads attached to your neck and forehead and under your eyes measure tiny changes in muscle contractions in reaction to sounds. Imaging tests. MRI and CT scans can determine if underlying medical conditions might be causing your balance problems.
