Quick Answer
Videonystagmography records eye movement with infrared goggles to establish whether dizziness originates in the inner ear or the brain. It takes forty-five to sixty minutes at 1691 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100, Henderson NV 89012, provokes dizziness deliberately in parts, and requires someone to drive you home.
Part ofThis guide sits beneath vng balance testing, which covers the study itself, how it is performed and what the report should contain.
our VNG Balance Testing page →Key Takeaways
- Arrange for someone to drive you home. Parts of the study deliberately provoke dizziness.
- Withhold dizziness-suppressing medication only if specifically instructed, never on your own initiative.
- No eye makeup, mascara or false lashes, because the cameras track your pupil. Bring glasses rather than contacts.
- Eat something light around two hours beforehand rather than arriving full or empty.
- Forty-five to sixty minutes at 1691 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100, Henderson NV 89012.
Videonystagmography
Videonystagmography records eye movements with video goggles while the balance system is challenged. Because eye movements are tightly linked to inner-ear balance signals, they reveal which side and which part of the balance system is involved.
Why eye movement reveals a balance problem
The premise sounds strange until the anatomy is explained, at which point it becomes obvious.
The reflex the study exploits
The balance organs of the inner ear are connected by a direct reflex pathway to the muscles that move the eyes. Its everyday purpose is holding your gaze steady while your head moves, which is why you can read a sign while walking. Because that connection is direct, a disturbance anywhere in the balance system produces a characteristic pattern of involuntary eye movement. Recording the eyes is therefore a way of examining a system buried inside the skull without reaching it.
Peripheral against central, which is the whole point
Patients with an inner-ear problem and patients with a brainstem problem use the same words: dizzy, spinning, off-balance, lightheaded. The history narrows it and frequently cannot settle it. The eye-movement patterns differ measurably: direction, whether they change with gaze, whether they fatigue, whether they match what an inner-ear lesion would produce. That distinction carries different investigations and different urgency.
What the study does not do
It does not test hearing, which requires audiometry, a different test the practice does not provide. It does not image the brain. It does not diagnose migraine, though migraine is a common cause of episodic dizziness. And it does not measure how disabling your symptoms are, which is the thing you actually care about and which no eye-movement recording captures.
| Also considered | How it is distinguished |
|---|---|
| Positional (Dix-Hallpike) testing | A bedside manoeuvre that identifies BPPV; VNG quantifies and documents the response. |
| Hearing testing | Assesses the hearing organ; VNG assesses the balance organ and its pathways. |
| MRI | Looks for a central cause when VNG or examination suggests one. |
| Blood pressure assessment | Chosen where lightheadedness on standing rather than true vertigo is described. |
Preparation, and the four sections
01
What brings people in
Vertigo, unsteadiness, or dizziness needing objective assessment of the balance system.
02
What the evaluation settles
Whether the pattern is peripheral or central, which side is involved, and whether positional vertigo is present.
03
What you leave with
Recorded, quantified eye-movement findings and, when BPPV is identified, in-office repositioning at the same visit.
The instruction that matters most
Arrange for someone to drive you home. Parts of the study deliberately provoke dizziness, and some patients feel unsteady or nauseated afterwards. This is the most commonly ignored instruction and the one with real consequences.
Medication, and why the rule is strict
Anything suppressing dizziness masks the findings, so specific medications are usually withheld for a period beforehand. You will be told exactly which and for how long. Never stop anything on your own initiative. Also avoid alcohol, sedatives, antihistamines and motion-sickness remedies for 24 to 48 hours, all of which affect the vestibular system.
Eyes, face and food
No eye makeup, mascara or false lashes, because the cameras track the pupil. Remove contact lenses and bring glasses instead. Eat something light around two hours beforehand rather than arriving full or empty: a full stomach worsens nausea during the provocative sections and an empty one worsens light-headedness. That small point materially affects how the appointment feels and is rarely included in preparation instructions.
The four sections, including the one worth explaining properly
Following targets with your eyes, which is comfortable and tests central pathways. Position changes, where positional vertigo declares itself and which may briefly reproduce your symptoms. Caloric testing, where warm and cool air is introduced into each ear in turn: this reliably produces a sensation of spinning for thirty seconds to a minute per ear, it is deliberate, it is the most informative part because it tests each side independently, and it is the reason a driver matters. And gaze testing for nystagmus at rest.
The first 30, 60 and 90 days
Step 1
First visit
History and neurological examination, a review of records and prior imaging, and a decision on which studies are actually indicated. You leave with the plan, not just a referral.
Step 2
Within 30 days
Indicated in-office studies are performed and interpreted by the neurologist who ordered them, in our AANEM-accredited laboratories. Results are explained in plain language.
Step 3
60 to 90 days
Follow-up to judge whether the plan is working, adjust it, and coordinate with your referring clinician. Where a diagnosis needs time to confirm, this is where it is revisited.
Attending from Henderson
The Henderson office is at 1691 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100, just off the 215 Beltway, with parking on site. All six in-office studies are performed and interpreted there, so nothing is sent across to Las Vegas. Green Valley, Anthem, Whitney and Boulder City are generally closer to it than to Flamingo Road. Adults 18 and older.
Referred for balance testing?
Arrange a lift home, skip the eye makeup, and eat something light beforehand.
The Bottom Line
Arrange a lift, skip the eye makeup, eat something light two hours before, and stop nothing unless told to.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a VNG test?
A recording of your eye movements using infrared goggles during a series of visual and positional tasks. Because the inner-ear balance organs connect directly to the muscles that move the eyes, eye movement reveals what the balance system is doing without needing to reach it directly. Nothing is injected and no radiation is involved.
Will it make me dizzy?
Yes, parts of it are designed to. Positional testing may briefly reproduce your symptoms, and caloric testing reliably produces a sensation of spinning for thirty seconds to a minute per ear. That is deliberate and it is the most informative part of the study. It settles within a minute or two of each position.
Do I need someone to drive me home?
Yes. This is the most commonly ignored instruction and the one with real consequences. Some patients feel unsteady, tired or mildly nauseated for a few hours afterwards, and you should not be driving yourself. Arrange the driver at the point you book rather than trying to sort it out on the day.
Should I stop my dizziness medication first?
Only if you are specifically instructed to, and you will be told exactly which medications and for how long. Anything suppressing dizziness masks the findings. Never stop a medication on your own initiative before this study. The instruction usually begins a few days before, so read it when you receive it rather than the night before.
Can I wear makeup or contact lenses?
No eye makeup, mascara or false lashes, because the cameras track your pupil. Remove contact lenses and bring glasses instead, though you will not wear them during the recording. Tell us in advance about eye surgery or a prosthetic eye. Bring a case for the lenses, and your glasses for the journey home.
Does it test my hearing too?
No. VNG assesses the balance system. Hearing requires audiometry, which is a different test for a different question and is not performed here. Dizziness with new hearing loss needs prompt assessment rather than a routine appointment. Audiometry is arranged externally where it is needed alongside the balance assessment rather than instead of it.
My VNG was normal but I am still dizzy. What does that mean?
That the vestibular system tested within expected limits at that moment, which is common and informative rather than a failure. It redirects attention toward causes this study does not measure: blood pressure, medication effects, cardiac rhythm, migraine-associated dizziness, and anxiety. A normal study genuinely narrows the list rather than leaving you where you started.
What if I forget and wear mascara?
Tell the team on arrival rather than proceeding. The cameras track your pupil and eye makeup interferes with that, so it is better to remove it than to produce a degraded recording. Removal wipes are usually available at the office, so it costs a few minutes rather than costing you the appointment.
Where exactly is the Henderson office?
1691 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100, Henderson NV 89012, just off the 215 Beltway, with parking on site. All six in-office studies are performed and interpreted there, so nothing is referred across to the Las Vegas office. Green Valley, Anthem, Whitney and Boulder City are generally closer to it than to West Flamingo Road.
Should I use the Henderson or the Las Vegas office?
Whichever is the shorter drive, since both are fully equipped and hold the same records. West Horizon Ridge Parkway generally suits Green Valley, Anthem and Boulder City; West Flamingo Road suits the west and southwest of the valley. If you can attend either, say so when booking, because availability differs between the two week to week.
How this page was sourced
Practice facts come from Clinical Neurology Specialists directly: that both offices perform the study, that studies are interpreted within the practice, and that no imaging suite or audiology service is operated on site. Clinical context is sourced to the organisations listed below.
Durations quoted are typical and vary by protocol. Medication withholding instructions are given individually and must never be acted on without them, which is stated in the body rather than implied. No outcome is promised. Scope is adults 18 and older.
Change log
- 2026-07-28 — page published; clinical content reviewed.
- 2026-07-28 — last reviewed against AAN, AANEM and NINDS guidance; internal links and schema verified.
- Review cadence: quarterly, or sooner if guidance changes.
How to cite this page
Clinical Neurology Specialists. “VNG test Henderson.” Reviewed 2026-07-28. https://www.cnsnevada.com/diagnostic-testing/vng-balance-testing/vng-test-henderson/
References
- Vestibular Disorders Association — patient information on balance and vestibular disorders.
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke — the reference catalogue of nervous-system disorders.
- American Academy of Neurology — clinical practice guidance and specialist supply.
This page is for general information about a Clinical Neurology Specialists office and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. It does not create a physician-patient relationship. Adults 18 and older. For an active stroke, a first-time or prolonged seizure, sudden severe headache, sudden weakness, sudden vision loss, or a head injury with loss of consciousness, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.