Feeling dizzy, unsteady, or off balance can be unsettling, especially when your symptoms come and go without warning. Luckily, many balance problems are treatable once their cause is clearly identified.
Our Renton clinic offers advanced vestibular testing to help pinpoint what’s happening and guide you toward steadier, more confident movement. No matter what your balance issues are, our compassionate care team is here to help assess the root cause and develop a thoughtful path forward.
Understanding Balance Disorders
Your sense of balance relies on several systems working together: inner ear (vestibular system), vision, muscles, joints, and the brain’s ability to integrate information among them. When one part of this system isn’t communicating clearly, it can result in dizziness, vertigo, or instability.
Balance disorders are more common than many people realize. Studies suggest that more than one-third of adults older than 40 exhibit vestibular dysfunction. Even subtle changes can increase fall risk or make everyday movements feel uncertain, which is why the right care team is essential.
Symptoms That May Benefit from Balance Testing
You could be a good candidate for vestibular evaluation if you experience:
Dizziness or a floating sensation
Spinning episodes (vertigo)
Feeling unsteady while walking or standing
Falls or near-falls
Difficulty moving in low-light conditions
Increased motion sensitivity
Blurred or “bouncy” vision when turning your head
A Common Cause: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
One of the most frequent causes of vertigo is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This condition occurs when tiny calcium crystals inside the inner ear move into the wrong position.
Signs of BPPV include:
Brief spinning sensations, often lasting less than a minute
Symptoms triggered by head movements (looking up, rolling over, bending)
No associated hearing loss or ear pain
High responsiveness to treatment
The good news? If BPPV is identified, treatment can often begin during the same visit.
Our Diagnostic Approach at the Renton Location
Our Renton clinic is equipped with modern, evidence-based vestibular testing tools that allow us to evaluate how your balance system is functioning in real time.
Videonystagmography (VNG)
VNG uses infrared goggles to track eye movements while your head and body move through specific positions. Because eye motion and the inner ear are closely connected, this test helps us detect:
Inner ear dysfunction
Central (brain-based) balance concerns
Abnormal responses to positional changes
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP)
VEMP, a non-invasive test measuring inner ear and nerve function, is often used with VNG to provide a comprehensive evaluation of dizziness and imbalance. It involves the use of surface electrodes to measure your neck or eye muscle responses to sound. As you listen for clicking sounds through earphones, you may be asked to tighten your neck muscles or look up as we assess your response. This testing helps us diagnose a number of vestibular disorders.
Video Head Impulse Testing (vHIT)
vHIT evaluates all six semicircular canals of the inner ear. Using lightweight goggles, we gently guide your head through quick, controlled movements to assess how well your eyes stabilize during motion. This test helps identify:
Weakness in one or both inner ears
Reduced ability to maintain visual focus during movement
CaloricTesting
Caloric testing uses warm and cold water or air to stimulate the inner ear, which helps us check for possible vestibular system deficits that could be causing issues with balance and dizziness. By creating a feeling of movement that triggers an involuntary eye response called nystagmus, this testing helps identify peripheral vestibular weakness or damage to the vestibular nerve.
Epley Maneuver for BPPV
If your evaluation indicates BPPV, we can perform an Epley maneuver during your appointment. This series of guided head-and-body movements helps reposition displaced crystals. This is a game-changer because many patients experience significant improvement after just one or two treatments.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
Before your visit
To support accurate results, we recommend avoiding caffeine the morning of your test, wearing comfortable clothing, and bringing a list of medications. As most of the tests require eye tracking, we ask that no eye makeup is worn the day of testing.
During your visit
Your appointment begins with a detailed discussion of your symptoms and medical history, followed by a physical and balance examination. Depending on your needs, testing may include positional assessments, VNG, caloric testing, VEMP, and/or vHIT.
Most balance evaluations last 60–90 minutes.
Personalized Care & Next Steps
Your results guide a customized care plan, which may include:
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises
Balance retraining referrals
Lifestyle and safety recommendations
Coordination with physicians, physical therapists, or other healthcare professionals when appropriate
Follow-up visits allow us to monitor progress and adjust care as needed.
Falls Risk Assessment & Stability Screening
For patients concerned about falling (or those with a history of falls), we offer Falls Risk Assessments, available at all Eastside Audiology locations. These evaluations help identify balance weaknesses and guide preventive strategies before injuries occur.
A more advanced falls-risk evaluation is available as part of your balance care, with detailed results and personalized recommendations.
Reviewed by the Doctor of Audiology at Eastside Audiology & Hearing Services
Still have questions? Ask our Doctor of Audiology!
Schedule Your Balance Evaluation
If dizziness or imbalance is limiting your confidence and impacting your quality of life, our care team is here to help. Our Renton clinic offers advanced vestibular testing in a calm, supportive environment, led by experienced Doctors of Audiology.
Contact us today to schedule your balance evaluation and take the next step toward steadier movement and peace of mind.
