Vertigo Tests That Can Help Diagnose Your Vertigo

Vertigo is often described as the sensation that makes you feel dizzy, as if the world is spinning around you. People may experience vertigo temporarily or long term. Vertigo symptoms also include:

• Lightheadedness
• Motion sickness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Ringing in the ear
• Headaches
• Balance issues

Although there are many types of vertigo, it can be broadly classified as two different umbrella types.

The Two Types of Vertigo

Peripheral vertigo is the result of a problem with your inner ear, which controls balance. Patients with peripheral vertigo often experience hearing loss and tinnitus in addition to vertigo.

Central vertigo, on the other hand, begins outside of the inner ear. It results from a dysfunction in the central vestibular aspects of the nervous system. Central vertigo can result from an injury like a concussion or a condition like stroke. 

These types of vertigo can occur for a number of reasons. So how do you diagnose vertigo?

Types of Vertigo Tests

While vertigo is often caused by issues within the inner ear, there are several factors to take into consideration when it comes to the kinds of vertigo tests your doctor can try. You may need to go through a few or several tests to properly diagnose vertigo. After learning your vertigo symptoms, documenting your health history, and performing a general physical exam, there are a handful of tests that will be tried.

Dix-Hallpike Vertigo Test

The Dix-Hallpike maneuver is one commonly used if you’re suspected of having benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, also known as BPPV. This is the most common cause of vertigo. This method can also help your physician figure out if your vertigo is due to an inner ear problem.

So, what happens during a Dix-Hallpike test? 

• First, your doctor will ask you to sit with your legs stretched out
• They will proceed by turning your head 45 degrees to one side, then will help you lie back quickly so your head hangs slightly over the edge of the table
• The movement may cause the loose crystals to move within your semicircular canals and you may feel symptoms of vertigo
• Your doctor may need to perform the maneuver again on the other side

If no symptoms occur, it’s likely your doctor will need to perform more tests to diagnose your vertigo. If symptoms are experienced, your doctor can perform other maneuvers that will move the crystals out of the semicircular canal.

Head Impulse Test

The head impulse test evaluates how well your eyes and inner ears work in conjunction. It’s often used if your doctor believes you may have vestibular neuritis. 

To perform this exam, your doctor will rotate your head quickly to watch for certain rapid eye movements and reflex functions that could imply a problem in the semicircular canals of the inner ear.

Computerized Dynamic Posturography

This is also known as the test of balance. It is a technique used to assess underlying sensory and motor control impairments that are associated with balance disorders such as vertigo.Three sets of tests are performed in total. 

• First, your doctor will test your ability to keep your balance with your eyes open and closed on a stable and moving surface, then your ability to stay steady while lines on a screen move in front of you will be checked.
• In the second test, the floor will move forward and backwards beneath your feet, and it will be measured how quickly you respond.
• In the final test, the floor will move up and down, measuring how much energy you use to keep your balance

Hearing Tests

These tests are also known as audiometric tests, and they are used to measure your hearing function. They can detect issues in the inner ear. There are several different types of hearing tests available. One test, called electrocochleography, helps determine if fluid buildup is causing excessive pressure within the inner ear.

MRI Scans

If you are experiencing hearing loss in particular, doctors may recommend an MRI scan to obtain a closer look at the inner ear and the surrounding structures. 

An MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create computerized, three-dimensional images of the ear and the nerve that carries signals from the inner ear to the brain. Using an MRI scan could reveal fluid buildup or inflammation in the inner ear or a growth on the nerve which could be causing your vertigo.

Getting Treatment

Your vertigo can be caused by any number of things, from past traumas to the head or spine, to your particular diet or physical activities. The vertigo tests that a professional can perform are crucial in diagnosing vertigo and setting up treatment for vertigo.

At Align Wellness Center, we have helped thousands of patients that have suffered with vertigo and are wondering what kind of vertigo tests will help them reach a diagnosis and treatment plan faster. Those patients are finally starting to find relief from their symptoms for the first time. Vertigo issues can improve drastically through corrective chiropractic care.

If you or someone you know is having issues with vertigo or are having trouble getting vertigo tests that garner results, they need to be looked at by a corrective chiropractor and ensure the cervical spine is in alignment as well as other areas of the body. If you’re looking for a chiropractor that will take a natural and holistic approach to helping with your vertigo, give us a call, even if you’re out of our area, we can look to connect you with a chiropractor near you.

We offer an in-depth exam to determine exactly what we can do to help with as much detail for you as possible. It is called the 3-Dimensional BioStructural Analysis, and the process involves the following:  

• Timeline history
• Digital posture exam
• 3-Dimensional posture exam
• Chiropractic, Neurological, and Physical Exam
• Spinal radiographs (if needed)
• Digital biomechanical analysis of your spine
• Insurance verification (by our insurance team)
• Separate time to go over the results of your test within a day or two, where we will go over:
  • What is going on
  • If we can help
  • What the best next step is for you
  • Any investment in your health that is necessary

If you’re interested, you can schedule an appointment for a 3-Dimensional BioStructural Analysis here. If you’d like tips on how you can stay healthy and well without drugs and surgery, go ahead and check out other articles on this site. If you continue to struggle with vertigo and dizziness, give us a call at Align Wellness Center (847) 860-6599 or schedule an appointment online. Contact us today or stop by the office. We’re located at 900 Skokie Blvd., Suite 113, Northbrook, IL, 60062.