Patient

Request for Appointment with Physician Referral

Request for Appointment with out Physician Referral

Instruction for Patient

If you are scheduled for an Electronystagmography (ENG) / Video-nystagmography test. This test provides an objective measure of the vestibular (balance) system. During the test, your eye movements will be recorded and the different patterns of movement will be evaluated.

Typically, the test might have one or more of the following:

1. Test of inner ear functions during which you will hear sounds in one ear at a time to study

   the responses of the inner ear structures and the cochkeo-vestibular nerve;

2. Eye movements: you will watch a target light that is either stationary or in motion;

3. Positional: you will move through various head and body positions (i.e., on your back with your head to the right);

4. Calorics: your ears will be warmed or cooled with 30 seconds of water into your ear canals;

5. The third portion of the test may elicit a sensation of turning that lasts less than two minutes and subsides as the ear returns to your normal body

   temperature. The purpose of these procedures is to determine if any of them elicit nystagmus (rhythmic, involuntary eye movements).

The balance system is altered by certain medications, caffeine and alcoholic beverages. In order to obtain an accurate measurement of your balance system,
it is important for you to follow these instructions:

Do not take the following medications or substances 24 hours prior to testing:

• Sleeping Pills

• Tranquilizers

• Cold or Allergy Pills

• Barbiturates, pain killers with Codeine or Antihistamines

• Dizziness medications

• Aspirin

• Anti- Depressants

• Narcotics of any kind (including marijuana)

• Alcoholic beverages

If you forget and have taken any of the above medications or drink alcohol, please call the clinic as soon as possible.
Most likely it will be necessary to reschedule your appointment.

Do not discontinue medications for diabetes, heart disease, thyroid problems, high blood pressure, epilepsy or seizures, antibiotics or birth control pills.

Please get a good night’s rest before the test. On the day of the test, you may eat a light breakfast or lunch, but do not eat, smoke or drink coffee
or caffeine three hours prior to testing. Please remove contact lenses before your appointment. We recommend you wear comfortable clothing.

Please do not use make-up around the eyes.

Please also ensure your ears are cleared from wax.

Evoked potential/ VNG tests are essentially safe tests, however, it is our obligation to point to their side effects. There are rare side effects for tests involved in the dizzy tests such as discomfort, pain, minor injuries to external canals, dizziness, tinnitus, laceration. These are rare side effects, please ask our audiologists during your scheduled appointment.

After the test, some patients may feel dizziness. As a precaution, do not drive home. Please arrange someone to pick you up or take public transportation.
If you cannot take public transportation or get a ride, please wait in the clinic waiting area for at least 30 minutes after your test