If your doctor has recommended a VNG test, you probably have questions. Maybe you've been dealing with dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, or a recent fall, and now someone is telling you to show up for a two hour appointment with goggles involved. It sounds strange. It's actually one of the most useful tools we have for figuring out why you feel the way you do.
VNG stands for videonystagmography. The test evaluates how well the balance portion of your inner ear, called the vestibular system, is working. Here's what the appointment looks like from start to finish at Desert Valley Audiology & Balance.
Why Eye Movements Tell Us About Balance
That's the part that surprises most patients. A balance test that watches your eyes?
Your inner ear and your eyes are wired together. When the balance system sends a signal, your eyes respond with small, involuntary movements called nystagmus. During the VNG, you'll wear a set of goggles equipped with cameras that record those movements. Your audiologist reads and interprets the patterns to pinpoint where a problem is coming from.
One important note before you arrive. Keep your eyes open and wide throughout the testing so we can record accurate results. And skip the eye makeup that day. Dark makeup can interfere with the cameras, and if you arrive wearing it, we may ask you to remove it with a makeup wipe.
Before Your Appointment
We'll send intake forms by email so you can complete them ahead of time. Prefer paper? No problem. Just arrive 15 minutes early and we'll take care of it in the office.
The appointment starts with a hearing evaluation completed by your audiologist. Hearing and balance share the same inner ear real estate, so this step gives us a fuller picture. If you've had a hearing evaluation within the past six months, bring a copy and we can use those results instead.
From there, a trained neurodiagnostic technician guides you through the VNG test battery itself.
The Six Parts of a VNG Test
Every step is explained before it happens, and the testing is safe and painless. No needles, no pricks. Here's what's included.
- Bedside evaluation. You'll stand on a flat surface, then a soft surface, without shoes, first with your eyes open and then closed.
- Auditory evoked potential testing. Small sticker electrodes go on your forehead and neck, and you'll listen to clicking sounds through headphones.
- Oculo-motor evaluation. Wearing the goggles, you'll follow a green dot as it moves across a video screen.
- Body positioning. The technician moves you into different positions in a chair to see how your balance system reacts.
- Rotary chair. You'll be seated and safely secured in a chair that rotates slowly, 60 seconds in one direction and 60 seconds in the other. A brief sense of rotation is completely normal and fades within a minute or so.
- Caloric testing. Warm and cool air are placed in each ear. You may feel a floating or moving sensation. That's expected, and it passes quickly too.
Need a break or a glass of water at any point? Just ask. The technician is happy to help.
How Long It Takes and What Happens After
Plan on about 2 to 2.5 hours for the full appointment, including the hearing evaluation.
VNG testing tends to cause fatigue for the rest of the day. We recommend bringing a driver, or you're welcome to rest in our waiting room for 5 to 15 minutes before getting behind the wheel.
You won't leave wondering about your results for long. We'll schedule a follow up with your audiologist about one week later, in person or by telehealth, whichever works better for you. At that visit we review everything, answer your questions, and talk through next steps. Your results are faxed to your referring physician and can be emailed directly to you as well.
Schedule Your VNG Test in Las Vegas
Dr. Andrea Telatovich leads our vestibular evaluation department, and our team performs this testing week in and week out for patients across the Las Vegas valley and Henderson. Dizziness is not something you have to learn to live with. Testing is the first step toward answers, and answers are the first step toward treatment.
Call Desert Valley Audiology & Balance at 702-605-9133, extension 3, with any questions or to schedule your VNG evaluation. We look forward to helping you feel steady again.
