Vertigo

Vertigo is a symptom where a person feels as if they or objects around them are moving when they are not. It is often a spinning or swaying movement. A person may experience nausea, vomiting, sweating, or difficulties walking. It is usually worse when the head is moved. Vertigo is the most common type of dizziness.

Vertigo in ME/CFS

Vertigo is not usually experienced by ME/CFS patients (although possible as neurological problems in general are a prominent feature of ME/CFS and Myalgic encephalomyelitis) but dizziness is a more common symptom. While vertigo is a neurological disorder, the dizziness patients experience is usually due to Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) or Orthostatic intolerance (OI) which are prominent co-morbid symptoms and just two of the cardiac signs and symptoms they can experience.

Tests

In our Vestibular Tests Video Series, Kristen Janky, Au.D, Ph.D., CCC-A, Vestibular Audiologist at Boys Town National Research Hospital, explains the VNG test. By BoysTownHospital

Videonystagmography (VNG eng testing) is used for testing inner ear and central motor functions.

There are 4 main parts to a VNG test:

1. Occular Mobility 

You will be asked to have your eyes follow objects that jump from place to place, stand still, or move smoothly. The technician will be looking for any slowness or inaccuracies in your ability to follow visual targets. This may indicate a central or neurological problem, or possibly a problem in the pathway connecting the vestibular system to the brain.

2. Optokinetic Nystagmus

2. You will be asked to view a large, continuously moving visual image to see if your eyes can appropriately track these movements. Like the occular mobility tests, the technician will be looking for any slowness or inaccuracies in your ability to follow visual targets. This may indicate a central or neurological problem, or possibly a problem in the pathway connecting the vestibular system to the brain.

Vestibular Tests - Roll Test (Positional Nystagmus): The maneuver we can use to assess for horizontal canal BPPV is called the Roll Test. For this maneuver the patient starts sitting up and then they will lay straight back and you will hold their head at a 30 degree angle. For more information on our Balance and Vestibular. By BoysTownHospital

3. Positional Nystagmus 

The technician will move your head and body into various positions to make sure that there are no inappropriate eye movements (nystagmus), when your head is in different positions. This test is looking at your inner ear system and the condition of the endolymph fluid in your semi-circular canals. The technician is verifying that small calcium carbonate particles called otoconia are not suspended in the fluid and causing a disturbance to the flow of the fluid.

4. Caloric Testing 

The technician will stimulate both of your inner ears (one at a time) with warm and then cold air. They will be monitoring the movements of your eyes using goggles to make sure that both of your ears can sense this stimulation. This test will confirm that your vestibular system for each ear is working and responding to stimulation. This test in the only test available that can decipher between a unilateral and bilateral loss.

See also

• Dizziness