About the Vestibular Clinic
The Vestibular Clinic provides evaluations of the vestibular system. Your vestibular system is made up of the inner ear as well as vestibular pathways to and from your brain. The vestibular system is responsible for sensing and responding to head motions. Without a correctly functioning vestibular system, simple tasks like bending over to tie your shoe can be uncomfortable and unbearable.
Our clinic is offered as service through the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. We provide a thorough evaluation of the vestibular system to help identify the source of your dizziness. We also offer treatment recommendations for vestibular system disorders. Dizziness is the third most common complaint among patients seen in outpatient clinics. Prompt identification and treatment of dizziness is important to reduce costs from medical fees, missed days of work, and falls.
Our Vestibular Clinic Providers
3 Resulting Health Care Providers
What to Expect at Your Vestibular Evaluation
You have been scheduled to have a test evaluation of your balance system. The test is called VNG (videonystagmography). During testing, video goggles will be placed over your eyes. You will be asked to follow objects with your eyes. Your eye movements will be recorded while your head is placed in different positions.
Your eye movements will also be recorded while your vestibular system is heated and cooled by temperature controlled air. The goal of this evaluation is to attempt to determine the cause of your dizziness. We want to make to sure there is no serious disease present. We will also try to pinpoint the exact site of the problem. This lays the groundwork for effective medical treatment by your provider.
Testing takes about two hours on average to complete. You may need someone to drive you home after your appointment. Please do not bring small children to the evaluation unless there is someone to watch them during the testing.
Preparing for Balance Testing
- Stop any usage or consumption of nicotine and caffeine 12 hours before your appointment.
- Eat a light meal three hours before your appointment. Some tests make patients nauseous.
- Remove ALL eye makeup (eyeliner and mascara) before your evaluation.
Medications
48 hours before your appointment, please stop taking certain medications:
- Sleeping aids/sedatives/tranquilizers
- Example—Ambien, Lunesta, Valium, etc.
- Alcohol in any quantity, including cough medicine containing codeine
- Example—NyQuil
- Anti-dizziness medication
- Example—Meclizine, Antivert, Dramamine
- Anti-nausea medication
- Example—Zofran, Phenergan
- Antihistamines
- Example—Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra, cold remedies
- Pain medication, narcotics and barbiturates
- Example—Lortab, Codeine, HydrocodoneQuinine
- Marijuana or recreational drugs
If you have taken the following medications for longer than six months, do not stop taking them before your dizziness evaluation:
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Anxiety medication
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Example—Lorazepam, Niravam, Xanax, Klonopin
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Antipsychotics
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Example—Seroquel, Abilify
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Antidepressants
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Example—Zoloft, Prozac, Cymbalta, WellbutrinAspirin
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Do not stop taking any life-supporting medications (insulin, heart or blood pressure medications, etc). Please contact the provider who prescribed your medication if you are concerned about stopping any of the medications listed.
Contact Us & Directions
If you have any questions about your test, please call 801-581-3506. If you need to cancel or reschedule, call our office at least 24 hours in advance.
We are located on the University of Utah campus at 417 Wakara Way. Please see the map for directions to the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. There are limited patient parking spots available on the east side of the building.