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Electronystagmography (ENG) Test

Getting dizzy for no discernible reason can be scary and disconcerting. Not knowing what’s causing the dizziness is perhaps the most fearful thing of all. Thanks to the advanced technology at Neuro Injury Specialists in New York and New Jersey, you can receive a simple nerve test to help the doctors there explain your symptoms. An electronystagmography test is a non-invasive test that your neurologists perform in conjunction with other diagnostics to determine the next steps and the best course of treatment for your condition, which they also can then provide.

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    What Is an Electronystagmography (ENG) Test?

    Electronystagmography Test in BrooklynAn electronystagmography (ENG) test — also known as electrooculography — uses electrodes attached above and below your eye to record eye movement.

    An ENG test neurology check is actually a group of tests that may include:

    • Optokinetic test that measures how well you can track a light moving without moving your head
    • Positional test, during which you’re asked to move your head or body quickly while eye movement is being recorded
    • Gaze nystagmus test, which tests how well your eyes can fix on an object without moving involuntarily

    There are other types of ENG tests as well, and most aren’t uncomfortable at all. Your doctor, experienced in using the electronystagmography test for diagnostic testing chooses which of the tests you need to determine your diagnosis.

    In New York and New Jersey, find the best neurologists who are experts at diagnosing various neurological difficulties with tests like the ENG at Neuro Injury Specialists. At this practice, Drs. Leon Reyfman, Mark Cohen and Dmitriy Dvoskin provide exceptional diagnoses that allow them to deliver the most effective treatments for your specific condition.

    What’s the Purpose of an Electronystagmography Test?

    An ENG test is used when you have problems with your balance or coordination. This is known as a vestibular dysfunction. Vestibular dysfunction occurs in the inner ear and certain parts of the brain.

    An electronystagmography can also help to identify:

    • Labyrinthitis, which refers to swelling of the inner ear
    • Multiple sclerosis, a neurological immune disorder
    • Meniere’s disease, or a buildup of fluid in the inner ear

    Ultimately, electronystagmography can be used to help diagnose any condition that causes dizziness or balance trouble. It’s considered the best test for vertigo. The symptoms of dizziness and imbalance can indicate a problem with the nerves that affect your equilibrium.

    Who Needs to Get an ENG?

    An ENG test helps doctors diagnose and treat disorders that occur in what is called the peripheral vestibular system. This system not only deals with balance, but also muscle and nerve operations between the eyes and ears.

    Your doctor may order an electronystagmography test if you have inexplicable:

    • Dizziness
    • Hearing loss
    • Vertigo

    An electronystagmography can pinpoint a lesion if one is known to exist. ENG test neurology check can spot nystagmus — involuntary rapid eye movement — in response to a stimulus like the water caloric test. If the movement doesn’t happen, the problem is in the ear, nerves of the ear or specific places in the brain.

    How Would I Get Nerve Damage in My Brain?

    Nerve damage of the brain can have a number of causes from a sports injury to a car accident. It may be something you have little or no control over. The brain is an intricate organ that needs only a miniscule fault to go haywire.

    There are even some medications that can lead to ear nerve damage, such as:

    • Antimalaria medicine
    • Diuretics
    • Antibiotics

    The nerves tested are specific. These nerves all allow for certain movements of the eye. Sometimes the involuntary motion doesn’t happen, or it’s fast or slow. A neurologist knows what kind of response to expect from a certain stimulus.

    Some of the nerves of the brain tested might include:

    • Oculomotor nerve
    • Trochlear nerve
    • Abducens nerve

    What Can I Expect When I Get an Electronystagmography?

    There isn’t much for you to do to prepare for an ENG test. Your doctor lets you know if there are certain medications that you need to decrease or stop taking.

    You will also need to:

    • Not eat for four hours before the test in some instances
    • Stop all intake of alcohol or caffeine for 24 to 48 hours before test
    • Not wear eye makeup

    Before the procedure, your ears are examined for wax buildup and cleaned if necessary. Your neurologist lets you know if there are any special preparations you need to make for your situation. An electronystagmography is usually done in your doctor’s office. It’s a simple procedure that takes approximately one to 1.5 hours.

    The test usually follows a process that includes:

    • Cleaning and checking your ears for any abnormalities
    • Cleaning the areas where the electrodes will be placed with alcohol and allowed to dry
    • Attaching electrodes to your face around your eyes with paste
    • Asking you to perform certain tasks, like moving your eyes up or down

    After the test, the electrodes are removed and the paste is cleaned from your face. You may be asked to sit in the office for a short time to make sure you’re feeling okay because the movements can occasionally make you feel dizzy or nauseous.

    Are There Any Risks Associated with Electronystagmography Test?

    An ENG test is a relatively safe and uneventful procedure, especially when you rely on talented experts who perform this procedure over and over. People who have a pacemaker should not have this test done, as it may interfere with the function of the pacemaker.

    Minor risks may include:

    • Neck or back issues exacerbated by the movements required
    • Very slight nausea or dizziness that goes away immediately after the ENG test

    Since water is introduced to the ear canal via a syringe for the water caloric test, your doctor won’t do this test if you have a damaged eardrum, so you don’t have to worry about any pain at all. An ENG test usually is performed in your neurologist’s office, so you’ll be comfortable and in familiar surroundings.

    Some people ask if there’s a difference between ENG and videonystagmography (VNG) tests. An ENG uses electrodes placed around your eye to record vestibular ocular reflex. A VNG uses infrared cameras and specialized eyewear to view the same reflex. They’re different ways to get the same result and neither one seems to have an advantage over the other.

    To learn more about ENG test neurology issues and how you can get an easy diagnosis for your dizziness, contact the doctors at Neuro Injury Specialists in NY and NJ for a consultation as soon as possible. Don’t wait; don’t live with unnecessary risks associated with dizziness and lack of coordination.