Hearing Test

Before the test begins you will be placed in a soundproof room. You will be able to see the audiologist who is administering the tests through a window. She will communicate with you through a set of headphones that will she places over your ears before leaving the room.

The tests require that you respond when you hear sounds of different pitches and intensities either by raising your hand or pushing a button that was given to you by audiologist before she left the room.

During part of the test she will say certain words and will ask that you repeat what you hear back to her.

The entire test takes less then 15 minutes.

There is no discomfort involved in a hearing test. You can feel free to take your medications as normal and there are no restrictions on eating before the test.

Electronystagmography (ENG)

Is often one of the first tests your doctor will prescribe. It is used to record nystagmus, which is an involuntary eye movement characterized by the eye jerking back and forth.

Before having this test please check with your doctors office and let them know which medications you are now taking. Often up to 48 hours before the test you will need to stop certain medications as they can give the test a false reading.

Avoid eating for four hours before the test.

During the ENG test you will be seated in a darkened room where you will go through a series of tests to track the movement of your eyes.

Small electrodes will be place around your forehead which will analyze and record their movement. Some test will be done using goggles instead of the electrodes.

Once the test begins you will track a series of lights with your eyes while you're in different positions. At first the chair will be seated upright and you will track a light in front of you and then the chair will be tilted back where you will track the lights on the ceiling.

Towards the end of the test the chair will be tilted backwards. At this point either warm water or air and then cool water or air will be inserted into each ear. This part of the test is often called the Caloric test.

The water or air only remains in the ear for less then a minute. Many places will insert a small balloon into your ear first if they are using water to help keep the ear dry. Next water or air will be inserted into the ear.

At the water or air are being put into the ear you will be ask to close your eyes. During this part of the test is where many people will feel the sensation that they are spinning and at times a bit of nausea.

The technician who is taking the test will begin to ask you many questions such as the names of men that begin with an M. Try very hard at this point to answer all of the questions this will really help distract you from the dizziness you may be feeling. The level of dizziness you may feel at this point depends on how well your vestibular system is functioning. No reaction to the test may indicate that there is damage to your vestibular system.

The test itself takes about 45 minutes. It is always best to have someone drive you because you may feel a bit dizzy or off balance for several hours following the test.

ECoG

Measures how sound signals move from the ear along the beginning of the hearing nerve. It will help determine if excess endolymph fluids are causing a problem. If so this could could indicate Menieres Disease.

The technique involves an electrode consisting of a gold sponge, wire, wick or spring placed on the ear canal.

Once the test begins you will hear clicking or popping sounds. During this test your eye movements will be tracked.

You should not have any discomfort during this test and it should not increase your symptoms.

When scheduling the test be sure to ask if you will need to stop any of your medications prior.

ABR

Measures how hearing signals move from the ear to the brain and then within parts of the brain.

This test may also be referred to BER, BSER, or BAER, depending on the clinic you visit.

Under certain circumstances, this test can indicate the presence of a rare tumor called an acoustic neuroma.

It may also help identify conditions such as multiple sclerosis if they have affected the auditory pathway to the brain.

During this test you will be seated comfortably in a chair and a few electrodes will be place around your head. Once the test begins you will be tilted back and begin to hear clicking in your ears.

There is no pain involved during this test. Often people fall asleep during it as it can take 45 minutes to an hour to complete.

Posturography Or Platform Test

During this test you will be asked to stand on a platform, in front of you there will be a colored screen. For your safety you will be wearing a harness and the nurse who is performing the test will stand closely behind you in case you lose your balance.

Once the test begins the platform that you're standing on will shift in different directions, the way your body reacts and moves to the different positions is carefully being recorded.

This test will take about 30 minutes and it is also recommended that you stop certain medications up to 48 hours before the test so please check with your doctor and let he or she know what you are taking. Medications taken before the test can give your doctor a false reading and will slow down your chance in getting a diagnosis.

The Rotary Chair

tThe Rotary Chair test is done to test the vestibular system while sitting in a chair in a darkened room. Any medication that would calm the vestibular system you should stop 48 hours before the test.

When you go, make sure you wear comfortable clothing and don't dress too warm. If they are using a computerized rotational chair, its likely this will be a room that is small and round in shape with the chair in the center.You will have several feet between you and the wall but that is about all the space there will be. It is a circular chamber with a door that will be closed while you are tested.

You will be asked to sit in a chair, much like that of an eye doctors exam chair. It will have a very straight up right back and a place to hold your head against and arm rests. You will be sitting a bit forward so the strap really does keep you in the right position and the arm rests are a very welcome thing to have to hold on to. You will be asked to use the seatbelt and they will strap in your head into place with a security type strap so that you keep your body still. The googles/camera are snugged up and may feel a bit tight.

Some places will use electrodes that are attached to your face and around your eye but in many newer clinics they will use infrared googles that are kind of square that will go over both eyes.

They will adjust these goggles( big black awkward sized) so that your eyes will be centered on a computer screen as they watch your eyes while the testing is going on plus record all informtaion that your eyes do on the computer.

They will ask you to do certain things while you are asked to look at shadows on the wall. Maybe they will have you count by 3's or ask for you to say all the girls names you can think of that start with A, then B, C, etc. This is to keep your busy so that they can get the real reaction of your eyes while you are not concentrating on what you are doing. It is no way a test of your IQ but just something to keep you very busy.

You will be turned from right to left and back and they will continue to rotate the chair but it certainly is not at a fast speed. It is to mimic what your head would do if you were looking around on a normal day. It is meant to induce nystagmus which they are looking for and the computer will record all activity of the eyes.

The testing will take about 30 minutes or a bit longer. They have a microphone in the room, they can talk with you at all times. If needed, they will let you take short breaks. The door is shut while all of the testing is being done but you are never alone as you are able to talk with them at all times.

Let the person know what you are experiencing, such as dizziness or headache etc. Knowing your symptoms helps them to know more about you.

When the test is finished, the door will open and you will be unstrapped and you can take a minute or two to adjust to the lights because you were in the dark. At times there may be a dim light so they can produce shadow bars on the wall. Then you may step out of the chamber and go home. If you want, you can take your medications right there, just ask for some water once the testing is complete.

Xrays And Scans

Computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT) is an X-ray technique that best studies bony structures. Temporal bone CTs are often used to look for abnormalities such as fractures in the bone surrounding and containing the inner ear structures.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) An MRI of the brain can reveal the presence of tumors, stroke damage, and other soft-tissue abnormalities that might cause dizziness or vertigo. MRIs of structures in and around the inner ear may reveal problems such as an acoustic neuroma, a tumor of the vestibulo-cochlear nerve.

Computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT) Temporal bone CTs are often used to look for abnormalities such as fractures in the bone surrounding and containing the inner ear structures.

MRI

When you make an appointment for an MRI you will be asked to wear comfortable clothing, no make up or hair spray.

Once you arrive for test the as you will be asked to lay down on a table. Once you are laying on the table the technician will slide the table into the tube. You will be asked to lay very still.

The test last for about 45 minutes but the actual testing is split into 5, 10 and sometimes 15 minute incremints where during this time you will hear alot of banging outside of the tube. Some MRI departments offer earplugs or a stereo headset to block this noise

This is when the images are actually being taken so during this part it is very important not to move.

During some MRI's near the very end they will pull the table far enough out of the tube so that they can inject a very small amount of dye into your arm.

If you think you might have trouble getting through the procedure as you are not comfortable in tight or small places. Talk to your doctor beforehand and discuss whether an anti-anxiety medicine such as valium or xanax might help.

C-scan

A c-scan is a much quicker test. It often is done in about 10 minutes.
During this test you lay on a table as well, but your in an open space where the part of the machine that takes the test is only around the part of your body that needs the C-scan.