Videonystagmography (VNG)

Why this test may be ordered

• To find out if you have a disorder of the vestibular system (the balance system in your inner ear).
• To help find problems with the nerves or parts of your brain that are part of your sense of balance.
• If you have symptoms of a vestibular disorder, such as dizziness, vertigo, feeling as if you're going to fall, feeling lightheaded, ringing in your ears, or feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear.

Preparation and collection

Your provider will let you know how to prepare for your test. You may need to avoid certain foods or medicines before your test. But don't stop taking any medicine without talking with your provider first.

During a VNG test, you'll sit in a dark room wearing special goggles. A camera in the goggles will record your eye movements during three main parts of the test: ocular testing, positional testing, and caloric testing.

The test may make you feel dizzy for a few minutes. Some people have nausea for a short time during caloric testing, but vomiting is uncommon.

Understanding results

If your VNG results were not normal, it may mean you have a disorder of the vestibular system in your inner ear. The disorder may be in one or both ears. An abnormal VNG result may also mean you have a condition that affects the parts of your brain that help control your balance.

• Normal: Your eye movements responded as expected during the test, suggesting no significant vestibular disorder was detected. Limitation: A normal result does not rule out all balance disorders. Next step: routine
• Abnormal: Your eye movements did not respond as expected, which may indicate a vestibular disorder such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Meniere's disease, labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, or acoustic neuroma. It may also indicate a condition affecting the parts of your brain that help control balance. Limitation: An abnormal result does not specify which disorder you have; further testing is needed. Next step: prompt

• The test may make you feel dizzy for a few minutes.
• Some people have nausea for a short time during caloric testing, but vomiting is uncommon.
• You may want to plan to have someone bring you home in case the dizziness lasts longer.

What to do next

Your provider can explain what type of disorder you may have. You may need more tests, including other balance tests, to confirm your diagnosis. Treatment options depend on the type of balance disorder you have.

• What type of vestibular disorder might my results indicate?
• Do I need additional balance tests to confirm the diagnosis?
• What treatment options are available for my specific condition?

Evidence source

U.S. National Library of Medicine: Videonystagmography (VNG)