VNG (videonystagmography) records how your eyes move in order to check the inner ear and the balance pathways. It helps find the cause of dizziness or unsteadiness after a crash or a fall.
You get this test only if your physician orders it. Our staff books it and keeps following up, visit after visit, until the result is in your chart.
What is VNG?
Goggles fitted with a small camera film your eyes while you follow moving lights and move into a few positions.
Why would your physician order it?
Dizziness after a collision often starts in the inner ear or in the nerves that control eye movement. VNG helps sort out which part is not doing its job.
What does the test feel like?
A few parts may leave you briefly dizzy. That is part of the test. Your technician is with you the whole way.
How do you get ready?
Skip eye makeup. Some medicines, like sleep aids or dizziness pills, may need to be paused for a day or two first; ask your physician which ones.
What should you tell us first?
Let us know before the test if any of these apply to you:
- Neck motion that is limited by an injury
- Recent eye surgery
- A history of seizures
How long does it take?
45 to 60 minutes.
What to remember
- Brief dizziness is part of the test.
- No eye makeup on test day.
- Ask your physician which medicines to stop beforehand.
Show us you have it: List the medicines you will clear with your physician before test day. If any part is unclear, ask us to go over it again; there is no limit on that.
VNG is one piece of our balance and fall-risk assessment. Dizziness after a head injury is covered on our concussion and head injury page.
Other tests in the program
- Nerve test of the arm (EMG/NCS)
- Nerve test of the leg (EMG/NCS)
- CMAT (CardioMetabolic Assessment Test)
- Cognivue
- Kinetisense
- RQ (resting metabolic rate)
This page belongs to the Gateway Midwest physician-directed physiotherapy program. On Natural Bridge Road, the physician who examined you signs each order, and no treatment runs without a physician on site.
Hurt in an accident? Start here.
You do not need a lawyer, a police report or a referral to be seen. Bring your symptoms and we will work out the rest.
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Same-day appointments are often available for new accident and injury patients.