Do you experience episodes of dizziness or imbalance? If you do, you are not alone. Dizziness is the second most common reason someone visits their family doctor. The balance system is very complex and as a result, symptoms may vary greatly. Some people describe a sensation of “feeling off balance” or “light headed”. Other people experience a true sense of vertigo (vertigo is the illusion that your surroundings are moving). These symptoms may last for hours at a time or only a few seconds and may or may not be related to movement or position change.

Obtaining the correct cause for your dizziness requires a thorough evaluation. Our board-certified physicians at Capital Otolaryngology are specialty trained in balance evaluation and treatment. Our team of experts will perform a comprehensive evaluation of the ear and balance system and coordinate the patient's care with the other specialties that may be involved in the evaluation. Many times cardiology, neurology, and medical evaluation may be required.

Our physicians use advanced microscopic evaluation of the ear canal, eardrum, and middle ear cavity. Any wax that blocks the canal can be painlessly removed. Detailed imaging using our in-office CT scanner can provide high resolution pictures of the middle ear cavity to evaluate for causes of dizziness. We may use our own outpatient MRI scanner as well to evaluate for abnormalities of the brain that may cause dizziness.

Our Audiologists use the latest in sound isolation booth technology to obtain very accurate hearing testing. This evaluation is critical as many causes of dizziness may also cause hearing loss.

Our Audiologists will perform specialty balance testing called Videonystagmography (VNG). This sophisticated test is performed with the patient wearing a set of goggles with a video camera mounted on one eye of the goggle. Since the patterned eye movement caused by dizziness (nystagmus) is a reflex, we are able to measure this reflex with a computer attached to the camera. The testing is pretty simple and takes about one-half hour to complete. The testing process allows us to evaluate the different parts of the balance system to determine what part is causing the problem.

Our full-service balance services include:

• Comprehensive evaluation by a board-certified ear physician
• Hearing testing to evaluate for associated hearing loss
• In-office CT scanner to evaluate the middle ear cavity for causes of dizziness
• Outpatient MRI scanner to evaluate for central nervous system causes for dizziness
• Videonystagmography (VNG) - state-of-the-art balance test to identify the cause of dizziness

Ask about the comprehensive balance services offered at Capital Otolaryngology today!