(02)46025095
centennial102@bigpond.com- Fax: (02)46025102
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(02)46025095centennial102@bigpond.com
Centennial Specialists Centre offers audiology and vestibular function testing for assessment of dizziness to complement our comprehensive range of neurological and neurophysiological services. We use the latest equipment to provide rapid, accurate assessment of dizziness, balance disorders, hearing and eye movement disorders. Vestibular function tests, which include video head impulse testing, caloric testing, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and so on , are helpful in the diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis, Meniere’s disease, vestibular migraine and superior canal dehiscence.
Vestibular function tests take between 45 and 60 minutes to perform. Audiometry is often required and takes 15-30 minutes and sometimes needs to be done at a separate visit. The tests are simple and safe. Caloric testing will make patients dizzy for a few minutes. This is usually minor, but occasionally severe and associated with vomiting. VEMPs and head- shaking occasionally causes neck discomfort and can’t be completed in some elderly patients or patients with neck injury or arthritis.
Please note that the ears must be free of significant wax and that vertigo, nausea and sedative medications are best avoided. If you consider that it is important for the patient to continue taking these medications or they might be hazardous to cease (e.g. long term benzodiazapine usage), we can still perform the tests but certain abnormalities may be harder to interpret. They should continue all other regular medications.