Diagnosing a balance disorder is difficult because the conditions tend to manifest and then depart rather quickly, often without an apparent cause. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist known as an otolaryngologist. This is a physician who specializes in ear nose, neck and throat problems. The otolaryngologist likely will run a series of tests to determine the root cause of your balance issues, including exams of hearing, blood and brain.
You may undergo an electronystagmogram, which measures eye movements and the controlling muscles of the eye. Another potential test is the posturography, which requires a patient to stand on a movable platform in front of a patterned screen. You will be measured on your responses to the movement of the platform and the screen images.
Balance Disorder Tests
There are more than a dozen balance disorders the doctors will check, but the most common are:
1) Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) or positional vertigo: This is a brief moment of vertigo trigged by the position of your head. It typically occurs when you bend down, look way up or back over your shoulder but also can occur when rolling over in bed. It is related to weight on the cupula, an inner ear organ.
2) Labyrinthitis: This is an inflammation of the inner ear that can be caused by an upper respiratory infection, resulting in dizziness or loss of balance.