Trinity Hearing and Balance Center has advanced diagnostic testing equipment to assist in diagnosing and treating dizziness and balance disorders.  Dr. Kelly Hansen is highly experienced in providing the most thorough diagnostic evaluation available today for dizziness and balance impaired patients.   Because there are so many possible causes of dizziness and balance disorders, one or all of the following diagnostic tests may be performed:

Videonystagmography (VNG)  tests inner ear function by measuring the movements of the eyes directly through infrared cameras .  VNG testing is used to determine if a vestibular (inner ear) disease may be causing a balance or dizziness problem, and is one of the only tests available today that can distinguish between a unilateral (one ear) and bilateral (both ears) vestibular loss.  VNG testing is non-invasive and very little discomfort is felt by the patient during the testing. 

Audiometric (hearing) testing is also a key component of a thorough diagnostic evaluation.  Some dizziness and balance disorders develop hearing problems as a result of the condition.  It is important to have a comprehensive hearing assessment as part of the diagnostic process to more accurately diagnose and differentiate the source of the problem.  All of our hearing tests are performed in sound booths to ensure the most accurate results as possible. 



Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) tests both the inner ear system and the VIIIth nerve pathway up to the brainstem.  This test measures the timing of different electrical waves in response to small clicks of noise in the ear.  These tones are delivered through ear phones placed into the ear canal and are then recorded through electrodes typically placed on the forehead and behind the earlobes.  The BAER test will allow you to see if there has been a "block" along the VIIIth nerve pathway that lead to the brainstem.  Common "blocks" include tumors, infections, and degeneration to the nerve itself.


Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) testing has become a well-established test to determine the integrity of the saccule in the inner ear.  The purpose of this test is to determine if the saccule, a part of the inner ear organ called the otolith, and the VIIIth nerve are intact and functioning normally.  The VEMP is currently the only proven test available that can detect Meniere's disease even when a patient is non-symptomatic.

The VEMP testing procedure consists of placing an electrode on the forehead and on the middle third of the anterior (front) neck muscles (sternocleidomastoids).  With the patient in a supine position, the patient is instructed to hold their head up with no support surface using their anterior neck muscles.  Tone bursts or loud clicks are then repetitively presented to each ear.  Patients are instructed to tense their neck muscles during acoustic stimulation, and relax between bursts. 

DYNAMIC VISUAL ACUITY TESTING evaluates the presence of oscillopsia with horizontal and vertical volitional head movement. The test may be used for diagnostic evaluation and pre and post Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy outcome measures.


SENSORY ORGANIZATION PERFORMANCE TESTING is a simple clinical tool which provides clinicians with an effective method of balance function assessment sensitive to vestibular deficits.