Balance Tests Near You: Assessment for Dizziness and Vertigo

If you're experiencing dizziness, vertigo, or problems with balance, a specialist balance assessment can help identify the cause. The inner ear plays a crucial role in balance, and many balance disorders are linked to the vestibular system — the same part of the ear that helps you hear.

When to seek a balance assessment

Consider a balance assessment if you're experiencing:

• Recurrent dizziness or a spinning sensation (vertigo)
• Feeling unsteady or off-balance when walking
• Dizziness triggered by head movements or changes in position
• Nausea or vomiting associated with dizziness
• Hearing loss or tinnitus alongside balance problems

What does a balance test involve?

A comprehensive balance assessment may include several tests:

• Videonystagmography (VNG) — tracks eye movements using infrared cameras while you follow visual targets or change head position
• Caloric testing — warm and cool air or water is introduced to the ear canal to stimulate the vestibular system and assess its response
• Posturography — measures your balance on a platform that may move or tilt
• Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre — a positional test to check for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
• Hearing tests — as hearing and balance are linked through the inner ear

Where to access balance testing

Balance assessments are available through:

• NHS audiology or ENT departments — via GP referral. Some NHS trusts have dedicated vestibular clinics.
• Private audiologists — some audiologists specialise in vestibular assessment. Costs typically range from £150 to £400 depending on the tests required.
• ENT specialists — private ENT consultants can provide comprehensive vestibular evaluations.

If you experience sudden severe vertigo, hearing loss, or dizziness with weakness or speech difficulties, seek immediate medical attention as these may indicate a serious condition requiring urgent treatment.