Patient Compliance VNG Testing

Help patients successfully prepare for VNG tests

Preparation and patient compliance are vital elements for completing a successful series of VNG tests. Many practices distribute pre-appointment paperwork with information such as timing for the following:

--Medications to temporarily discontinue

--Medications to continue

--What to wear: comfortable clothes, flat shoes

--Eye prep, such as not wearing eye makeup or contact lenses

--When to avoid eating food and drinking caffeine or alcohol prior to testing

--What to expect regarding induced dizziness, the possibility of not driving oneself home

The preparation sheets are a helpful reference for patients who have no experience with vestibular disorders or VNG testing. There is quite an extensive list of do's and don'ts, which can be quite overwhelming.

To further improve patient compliance, practices who distribute papers and/or web information with Q and A's of what is actually involved with the VNG testing can go that much further to assist their patients. Most people are already feeling nervous about a doctor visit, especially when they are undergoing tests that they have no idea of what is involved. I know I was completely caught off guard when I learned that a full battery of VNG tests involves a series of eighteen tests and that it would take up to 30 or 45 minutes.

The information doesn't have to be clinical or complex, just keep it simple such as:

What to Expect for Your VNG Testing

Overall Objective

The overall objective of your VNG testing is to stimulate and visually record your eye movements under various circumstances. This is very likely to make you feel dizzy. Be prepared for dizziness and even the possibility of feeling nauseous or even throwing up in some cases. Both are common reactions during VNG testing. Your technician will help you as much as possible.

First Phase of VNG Testing

--The first portion of the tests, you will be asked to wear head gear consisting of goggles that have built in camera/s

--One eye will be shielded with a cover and the other one will be video recorded

--Keep your eyes wide open so the camera can record the movements of your pupil

--You will be asked to look at a dot on a monitor and follow the dot with your eyes

--Don't try to anticipate the pattern of the movements of the dot

--Each eye will repeat the same testing sequences and will be video recorded, one eye at a time*

--Please let your technician know if you are experiencing any adverse reactions to the testing procedures

*Unless your practice has a binocular VNG, in which case the eyes will be recorded at the same time

Second phase: Caloric Irrigator Tests

--A medical device called a caloric irrigator will be used for the second phase of testing

--A caloric irrigator is used to evoke your inner ear response to a stimulus

--You will be asked to wear headgear: goggles with the camera/s and lie down on an exam table

--A lighted tip connected to the caloric device will blow warm and cool air into your inner ear

--Keep your eyes wide open so the camera can record the movements of your pupil

--The camera/s will record the movements of your eyes, one at a time

--Expect a sequence of caloric testing, including physically changing movements while lying on the exam table

--You may need to lie on the exam table for a few minutes once testing is complete in order to recover from the dizziness you may experience

--Do not attempt to sit up, stand up, walk or drive unless you do not feel dizzy

--Please let your technician know if you are experiencing any adverse reactions to the testing procedures

For practices who are using ENG or older, outdated VNG testing equipment, consider upgrading to premium VNG devices and caloric irrigators manufactured by Difra Instrumentation. Difra's software is designed to reduce the time consuming aspects of testing. Difra software eliminates the need to mark up tests during during the testing procedures and therefore allows technicians to accurately test more patients with less labor for the tech and less time for the patient as well. For more information about Difra products, please contact Secure Health or review the product information contained on this web site.

If you have questions or just want to talk about this post or you have any other questions, please contact Secure Health, Inc.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Lana Scherer
Marketing Director, Secure Health, Inc.
260-418-6835 / [email protected]