Dizziness or balance examinations will include evaluating the inner ear, eye movement and neurological connections that links them all together. You can expect to be here about 1½ to 2 hours should a hearing assessment be involved. Hearing evaluations alone can last about 1 hour. The VNG test specifically takes 60 to 90 minutes. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early for paperwork.

The testing is not painful, and our doctors will make sure you are comfortable during the evaluation. All testing is state of the art and computer based. Our doctors will perform a series of tests to determine the cause of your dizziness.

The VNG test consists of four main components:

No, not all medications need to be stopped. Please call us at 425-277-9521 if you have questions.

CONTINUE taking medication for long-term conditions such as:

STOP taking these medications 48 HOURS prior to the exam:

IMPORTANT: Contact your prescribing physician before stopping any medications.

We ask that you DO NOT take anti-vertigo medications such as Meclizine on the day of your appointment, and stop taking them 48 hours prior. These drugs, along with strong sleeping pills and pain pills that cause drowsiness, can affect the accuracy of test results.

Substance Restrictions:

To prevent nausea, avoid eating and drinking caffeine at least 4 hours prior to testing. While it is okay to eat, please eat light, and avoid heavily fried foods or lots of dairy products. Although most people do just fine with the balance tests, some parts might make you feel a little dizzy — so, to reduce any nausea you might otherwise experience, we ask you not to eat a heavy meal.

Eating Guidelines:

No. Makeup, particularly eye makeup, face lotion, or sunscreen on the face the day of the test. These often disturb our sensitive equipment and prevent accurate results.Allowed: Lip balm and lipstick

Not Allowed:

• Mascara
• Eyeliner
• Eye shadow
• False eyelashes
• Face lotion or moisturizer
• Sunscreen on face
• Face creams

Everybody's reaction is different. It depends on what the underlying cause of your dizziness is. If you're already dealing with dizziness symptoms, the tests won't make them worse than they already are and they won't cause previous dizziness episodes to return. Our doctors will make sure they keep you as comfortable as possible.Some patients may experience mild dizziness or nausea for a few minutes during the caloric portion of the VNG test. This is a normal and necessary response that helps evaluate your vestibular system. Any symptoms typically resolve quickly, and you should feel better by the time you leave.

Most of our patients feel just fine to drive after testing. However, if your present symptoms are severe, it's not a bad idea to have someone drive you. If you're concerned about lasting effects of nausea, you are encouraged to bring a friend or family member to drive you home.

These may temporarily make you feel worse after a VNG test. Common after-effects of the test include:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Minor earache
• Residual nausea
• Mild vertigo lasting a few hours

These symptoms typically resolve within a few hours after testing.

While these complications have been reported in the literature, please remember these are extremely rare:

• Tympanic membrane perforation
• Anxiety
• Spinal injury
• Persistent vertigo/nausea
• Cardiac arrest

Our experienced clinicians take all precautions to ensure your safety and comfort during testing.

• Complete list of current medications with dosages
• Reading glasses (if you use them) and a case for them
• Contact lens case and solution (if you wear contacts)
• Hearing aids or cochlear implants (wear them to appointment) and their case
• Insurance information
• Photo ID
• Someone to drive you home (if concerned about nausea or if symptoms are severe)

• Loose-fitting, comfortable clothing
• Flat, supportive shoes
• Pants are recommended (you'll be moving into different positions)
• Avoid tight collars or necklaces that might interfere with neck sensors

A co-pay may be charged for diagnostic testing in addition to the co-pay for consultation with our doctors. This varies by insurance plan. If there is a second co-pay, it will be due on the date of service. Please contact our office at 425-277-9521 if you have questions about your specific insurance coverage for VNG and vestibular testing.

Please inform our staff if you have any neck or back problems that might affect positioning during the test. We can make accommodations to ensure your comfort and safety during the various positional tests.

In most cases, VNG testing will allow us to determine potential causes of your symptoms and plan an effective course of treatment. The comprehensive nature of the test helps differentiate between inner ear disorders, neurological issues, and other causes of dizziness, leading to more targeted and successful treatment plans.

If you need to reschedule your VNG appointment, please call our office at 425-277-9521 at least 24 hours in advance. This allows us to offer the appointment time to another patient who may be waiting for testing.