If you’ve been experiencing dizziness or vertigo, you’ll know how unsettling it can be – and how much it helps to finally have an explanation. Getting to that explanation depends on accurate diagnosis, and at angli-EAR Hearing, two specialist tests play a key role in helping us understand what’s going on with your inner ear balance system: VNG and vHIT.
Our Vestibular Specialist, Shreya, explains what each test involves and why, used together, they give us such a clear picture of vestibular function.
What is VNG?
VNG (videonystagmography) uses specialist goggles fitted with small cameras to record your eye movements during the test. This might sound unusual, but there’s a good reason for it – eye movements are closely linked to the balance system, and the way your eyes respond tells us a great deal about how well your inner ear and central nervous system are functioning.
VNG is a non-invasive test and is generally well tolerated. It provides a detailed analysis of your balance function and can help identify a range of conditions including vertigo and vestibular dysfunction.
What is vHIT?
vHIT (video head impulse test) assesses how well your inner ear responds to rapid head movements. You’ll wear a lightweight pair of specialist goggles while small, quick head movements are made – the whole test typically takes around ten minutes.
What makes vHIT particularly valuable is its precision. It evaluates all six semicircular canals individually – the tiny fluid-filled structures in your inner ear that detect movement – and can be carried out in a natural, upright position, making it a straightforward and efficient test.
Why do we use both?
VNG and vHIT each tell us something different, which is why using them together gives us a much more complete picture.
VNG looks at the broader picture of balance function, while vHIT provides precise insights into how specific parts of the inner ear are performing. Together, they allow us to identify the cause of symptoms more accurately and more quickly – which means a clearer path to the right treatment or rehabilitation.
Could your dizziness be vestibular?
Many people live with dizziness, vertigo or balance problems for months – sometimes years – without ever finding out why. In many cases, the cause is vestibular and very treatable once identified.
If your symptoms are affecting your daily life, a good first step is our free 15-minute Balance Health Check. It’s a short consultation — available in person, by phone or via video call — to help determine whether a full vestibular assessment is likely to help.
Book your free Balance Health Check
