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Your consultant has requested balance testing to help manage your condition by finding out more about it.

How long will the test take?

We allow 90 minutes for the full set of tests that we might carry out.

What preparation do I need to do?

• For 48 hours before your test, please do not take any medication for your balance problem.

• For 48 hours before the test, please do not consume any alcohol or other recreational drugs.

• Although the tests are safe, we recommend allowing a couple of hours after the testing before you return to work.

• Please do not wear any eye makeup, as this can seriously affect the testing.

• If your specialist did not ensure your ears are clear of wax, please ask your GP to check this before your test.

Attending the appointment

Please do not plan to drive after the test. If possible, we recommend someone accompany you to support you getting home afterwards.

What does the testing involve?

Your balance system is made up of several parts: your eyes; your inner ears; receptors in your neck and back; and your brain, which puts all the information together.

We measure your eye movements throughout the testing using special goggles with a video camera.

First, we will ask you to do some eye exercises following some moving lights on a projector.

Then we may ask you to lie on a couch and turn your head and body in different directions. Some of these tests may already have been performed by your specialist.

Finally we will carry out the main test of your inner ear balance system. This involves squirting warm and cool air into each ear, one at a time. This changes the temperature of the fluids in your inner ear, making them gently swirl round, which is also what happens when you turn your head. This way, we can tell how your ears are responding. This does tend to make people feel dizzy. However, the dizziness normally wears off as soon as the fluid in your ears comes back to their normal temperature.

We do four of these altogether. By the end of this, you may be feeling a little Woozy, which is why we suggest you have someone with you.

What happens after the test?

Once you feel settled, you are free to go.

It takes us a bit of time to analyse the results. We then write a report of these which we hand over to your specialist’s team. They normally receive this either the same day or the next working day.

Your specialist will then contact you and either write to you explaining what has been found or arrange an appointment to discuss the results with you.