October 23, 2017 | General, Personal injury, Workers' compensation

A VNG Test, which is short for videonystagmography test, is a test that physicians sometimes use to determine whether the inner ear and central nervous system are functioning correctly following a work-related injury.

The inner ear perceives balance with much the same mechanism as it perceives sound. That is, the stimuli cause the fluid in the ears to move, which in turn causes very small hairs in the vestibular canal to move. When the ear perceives sound, the vibration from the sound waves is translated into the fluid in the ears which causes the tiny hairs to move. When the body is moving, or is moved, gravity causes the fluid in the ears to move, which in turn causes the tiny hairs to move. This is the way our bodies transmit these sensations to our brains.

How does a VNG test relate to worker’s compensation?

When the inner ear’s ability to sense changes in the fluid is damaged, it causes problems with balance. This is the cause of dizziness or vertigo.
There are many causes of dizziness and vertigo. Head injuries, head trauma, concussions, exposure to significant pressure changes, migraines, anxiety, depression, and surgical trauma can all cause dizziness and vertigo.

In many workers’ compensation cases, dizziness and vertigo are undiagnosed or ignored.

However, dizziness and vertigo are common symptoms of many kinds of injuries and have devastating impact on an injured worker’s ability to find employment.

When dizziness or vertigo are related to a work-related injury, they can cause significant loss of earning capacity. A person that suffers from chronic dizziness or vertigo as a result of a work injury may have difficulty driving or walking and my no longer be employable. If that happens, the injured worker needs to make sure that he or she is fairly compensated by the employer and insurance carrier for the loss of earning capacity or inability to work.

Do you have questions about a work-related injury?

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