Balance Testing
We maintain balance unconsciously through an orchestrated interaction from the balance
part of the inner ear, input from the visual system and through feedback from our muscles
and bones (kinesthetic). When a problem arises, our ability to maintain equilibrium is
impaired and we typically will experience dizziness or vertigo. Vertigo is a symptom of
a disorder of these systems (inner ear, visual, and kinesthetic) that may have multiple
causes including but not limited to aging, head trauma, medications, or inner ear infections.
The balance assessment is performed to determine the cause of the
dizziness by
studying eye movement. Specifically nystagmus (which is an involuntary
rapid rocking of the eye that occurs with true vertigo) is recorded.
The test is comprised of three subtests - visual, positional and
caloric tests.
Balance system assessment is conducted to detect pathologies within the vestibular
or balance system, to determine the site of the problem, to monitor changes in
balance function, or to determine the contribution of visual, vestibular, and
proprioceptive systems to functional balance.