Vestibular and Balance Testing
Clear answers for dizziness, vertigo and balance problems, close to home in Jimboomba and Flagstone.
Are you a GP, physiotherapist, ENT or neurologist? Referral information is here.
Are Dizziness or Balance Problems Affecting Your Day to Day?
If the room spins, your head feels light, or you find yourself reaching for a wall to steady yourself, it is unsettling and it is worth understanding. Dizziness and balance problems have many causes, and quite a few of them start in the inner ear.
Vestibular testing can help identify what is causing it.
What is a Vestibular Test?
Vestibular tests help identify the cause of balance and dizziness issues
Vestibular and balance testing looks at how well your inner ear, your balance system and the pathways that connect them are working. The results help us understand what is behind your dizziness, vertigo or unsteadiness, and guide you towards appropriate treatment.
At Hearing Med Audiology we take a calm, thorough, patient-first approach. We explain each step as we go, we do not rush you, and we give you clear findings you can actually use.
The Signs You Might Benefit from a Balance Test
You may be referred for, or benefit from, vestibular testing if you experience:
A spinning sensation, either of yourself or the room around you (vertigo)
Light-headedness or a feeling that you might faint
Unsteadiness on your feet or a tendency to veer to one side
Blurred or jumpy vision when you move your head
Frequent trips or falls, particularly in dim light
Dizziness triggered by moving your head, rolling over in bed, or looking up
Nausea or sensitivity to movement
Balance problems alongside changes in your hearing, ringing, or a feeling of fullness in the ear
A professional assessment can help identify the cause and guide tailored next steps.
Conditions Vestibular Testing Can Help Identify
Dizziness is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Testing helps narrow down which of many possible causes is behind it. Conditions we commonly assess for include:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), where brief spinning is triggered by head movement
Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis, often following a viral illness
Meniere's disease, where vertigo comes with hearing changes, ringing or fullness in the ear
Vestibular migraine
Dizziness following concussion or head injury
Age-related changes to the balance system
Dizziness related to certain medications
Balance problems with a central cause, which may need onward referral
Not Sure If Testing Is Right for You?
Get in touch and we will talk it through. Because vestibular testing needs some preparation, and in most cases a referral, we will confirm everything with you before booking your appointment.
0487 819 789
The Tests We Use
A vestibular assessment is not a single test. It is a battery of tests, each looking at a different part of the balance system. Using several together is what allows us to tell the difference between a problem in the inner ear and one with a central cause, which is the information your doctor needs to decide what happens next.
Videonystagmography (VNG)
VNG records your eye movements using infrared goggles, because the eyes and the balance organs are directly connected. Small involuntary eye movements tell us a great deal about how the inner ear is working.
VNG usually includes following moving targets with your eyes, recordings taken with the lights off, and a series of position changes between sitting and lying. It is the part of the assessment that helps distinguish a problem in the inner ear from one originating in the brain.
Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT)
vHIT checks how well your eyes stay fixed on a target when your head is moved quickly. It assesses the reflex that keeps your vision steady while you move, and it can identify which of the balance canals is not working as it should.
It takes only a few minutes and involves small, quick head movements while you look at a fixed point.
Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV)
SVV checks how accurately you can judge what is truly upright. You are asked to align a line to vertical, usually in a darkened room. It assesses a different part of the inner ear from the other tests and can help show which side a problem is on.
Hearing Med Audiology uses Neuro Equilibrium for vestibular testing.
Dizziness and light headedness were always a part of my every day, so I was interested in finding out the possible cause. The vestibular testing process was thorough but Sherin explained everything as we went and ensured my comfort throughout the process.
Tanya E. Flagstone
Information for Referring Practitioners
When to refer
Referrals are welcome from GPs, physiotherapists, ENT specialists and neurologists.
Most referrals reach us as a letter you write and give to your patient, who brings it with them to their appointment. Everything you need to write that letter is below:
Our details for your referral letter
Clinic: Hearing Med Audiology
Clinician: Dr Sherin Koshy, AUD
Address: 76 Sheridan Drive, Flagstone QLD 4280
Phone: 0487 819 789
Email: admin@hearingmed.com.au
What to include
It helps us focus the assessment if your referral notes the patient's presenting symptoms and how long they have had them, any history of head injury, ear surgery or hearing loss, current medications, and any previous results or imaging.
What the assessment covers
A full vestibular battery:
- videonystagmography (VNG)
- video head impulse test (vHIT) and
- subjective visual vertical (SVV).
Together these assess oculomotor function, positional nystagmus, high-frequency vestibulo-ocular reflex across the semicircular canals, and otolith function, which supports differentiation between peripheral and central causes and helps identify the affected side.
Appointment time is 90 minutes to 2 hours.
What you receive
The report is provided within 48 hours.
You Can Find Out What's Causing Your Dizziness & Balance Problems
Ready to get to the bottom of your dizziness or balance concerns? We are here to help, with a thorough assessment and clear, practical answers.
Because vestibular testing needs some preparation, and in most cases a referral, we will confirm everything with you before booking your appointment.
0487 819 789
What a Vestibular & Balance Test Involves
Vestibular testing is painless, and we support you through every part of it. Plan for the appointment to take 90 minutes to 2 hours. Here is how it unfolds.
We talk you through it.
Before anything begins, your clinician explains what will happen and why, so nothing comes as a surprise. You can ask questions at any point.
Eye-movement recordings (VNG).
We record how your eyes move, which tells us a great deal about how your inner ear and balance system are working.
Head & body position tests (VNG).
We gently guide you through a series of position changes, moving between sitting and lying, to see how your balance responds.
Visual tracking tasks (VNG).
You follow moving targets with your eyes, so we can check the pathways that link your eyes, inner ear and balance.
Quick head movements (vHIT).
You keep your eyes on a fixed point while your clinician moves your head in short, quick movements.
Judging upright (SVV).
In a darkened room, you align a line to what you believe is vertical.
How to Prepare for Your Appointment
A little preparation makes the results more reliable.
Download our Patient Information Guide
Medications: some medications affect the results, particularly those for dizziness, vertigo or nausea. Never stop a medication without speaking to your GP or prescribing doctor first. If you are advised to pause vestibular suppressants such as Stemetil, Serc, Valium or Phenergan, that is usually 24 to 48 hours before testing.
Food and drink: avoid heavy meals for at least 2 hours beforehand. Stay well hydrated, but avoid caffeine, alcohol and energy drinks for 24 hours before testing.
Make-up: please come without eye make-up. Mascara and false lashes interfere with the eye movement recordings, which are central to the assessment.
Clothing: you will be lying down and moving between sitting and lying positions, so wear comfortable loose clothing and flat shoes.
Getting home: some people feel temporarily dizzy afterwards, so we advise you not to drive immediately after the test. If you can, bring a family member or friend with you.
Bring with you: your referral if you have one, along with any previous hearing or balance results and any relevant scans.
Is Vestibular Testing Safe?
Vestibular testing is safe and non-invasive, and you are supported throughout. Some people notice temporary effects during or just after the assessment, which typically pass quickly:
Short-lived dizziness or vertigo
Mild nausea or unsteadiness
Some head or neck discomfort from certain positions
Rarely, a person may feel faint or anxious
Rarely, a risk of falling. You are supported throughout the testing to minimise this
Please let us know beforehand if you are pregnant, have a neck or spinal injury, live with severe anxiety, or have other medical conditions we should be aware of. It helps us tailor the assessment to you.
Reviewed by Dr. Sherin Koshy, AUD (30 September 2026)
What Happens After Your Vestibular Assessment
Looking after yourself afterwards
Mild dizziness or fatigue may occur, but usually settles within a few hours
Take your time getting up and move carefully after the test
Avoid driving or operating machinery until you feel steady
Resume your medications as advised by your GP or specialist
Your report will be sent to your referring doctor within 48 hours
What is the cost?
A Medicare rebate will be received in clinic. We advise bringing a debit card to get the refund via Eftpos. We can see DVA, NDIS and Workcover with the approval numbers.
Book Your Vestibular Assessment
Ready to get to the bottom of your dizziness or balance concerns? We are here to help, with a thorough assessment and clear, practical answers.
0487 819 789
Vestibular & Balance Testing – FAQs
Do I need a referral for vestibular testing?
Speak to Dr Sherin Koshy about your situation and she can guide you. If you have a referral from your GP or a specialist, please bring it along, as it helps us focus the assessment.
How long does the appointment take?
Allow 90 minutes to 2 hours. It is a thorough assessment, and we would rather take the time to get clear answers than rush it.
Will the testing make me dizzy?
Some people feel briefly dizzy or unsteady during or just after the test. It usually passes within a few hours. This is why we recommend arranging not to drive yourself home.
Should I stop my medications before a vestibular test?
Never stop a medication without talking to your GP or prescribing doctor first. If you have been advised to pause vestibular suppressants, that is usually 24 to 48 hours before testing.
Is vestibular testing safe?
Yes. It is a safe, non-invasive assessment, and you are supported throughout. Any temporary effects, such as mild dizziness, generally settle quickly.
How should I prepare for a vestibular test?
Avoid heavy meals for 2 hours beforehand, skip caffeine, alcohol and energy drinks for 24 hours, come without eye make-up, and wear comfortable clothing and flat shoes. Full details are in our preparation guide above.
What happens if the test finds something?
Your test results will be sent to your referring GP and they will discuss the results with you.