Stay Steady on Your Feet with Balance Testing

Focus on a woman in a floor class who is doing stretches with women and men. Everyone is balancing on one leg. The other leg is held up with one hand by the knee. The opposite arm on the standing leg is held outward and horizontally.

What Is Balance Testing?

If you’re feeling unsteady, a balance disorder will help our audiologist determine why and provide the treatment that works best.

Do I Need a Balance Test?

The following are symptoms of balance disorders:

  • Sense of spinning
  • Feeling faint or lightheaded
  • Unsteadiness and feeling like you might fall
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion

What Tests Are Used to Diagnose Balance Disorders?

  • Audiometry: This exam measures your ability to hear different sounds, pitches and frequencies. Because the ear plays an important role in balance, hearing loss might lead to difficulty in this area.
  • Acoustic Immittance Measures: These tests evaluate the eardrum and middle ear and are used to determine which part of the ear is affected by hearing loss.  
  • Auditory Brainstem Response: This test provides information about the electrical activity in the auditory pathway between the inner ear and the brain and measures a person’s hearing sensitivity. 
  • Electronystagmography: This test measures eye movements to determine how the vestibular system is functioning. Electrodes are placed around the eye to record electrical activity and detect involuntary rapid eye movements. 
  • Electrocochleography: This technique measures the inner ear’s response to sounds by placing an electrode in your ear. 
  • Otoacoustic Emissions Test: During this procedure, a small probe is inserted into the ear to determine the response of hair cells in the inner ear. 
  • Videonystagmography: This technique, which detects involuntary eye movements, involves measuring the response of your eyes to moving dots, head and body movements and water or air in the ears. 
  • Posturography: During this test, you will stand on a platform, and your posture and balance will be measured under various conditions. 

Balance Testing is Often Done for Sports

Balance testing can be used to determine if athletes are experiencing a concussion. Useful tests in this category include the Balance Error Scoring System and the Sensory Organization Test. 

What Next?

If you’re having issues with balance, our team can provide diagnosis and treatment. We’ll make sure that your symptoms have minimal interruption on your daily life.