Happy June! Last month we talked about stress and vertigo. This month we're talking about goggles! Swim goggles are what you might think of now that it's summer in the northern hemisphere, or ski goggles if you're in the southern hemisphere. There's another type of goggles that I want to tell you about because they help you get a more accurate diagnosis for your vertigo, migraine or concussion symptoms.

What are vestibular goggles?

Infrared goggles are used most often by vestibular physical therapists to get a more accurate assessment of your vertigo, feelings of disequilibrium, or other balance issues you are experiencing. This could be the result of inner ear issues, migraine, concussion symptoms, or possibly other symptoms that could be cardiovascular or neurological in nature. You can also get an even fancier goggle test called a VNG, usually done by an ENT or audiologist who specializes in vestibular issues.

The vestibular system that is a major part of your balance system is deep in your inner ear. It sits behind the ear drum, so it can't be seen when the doctor looks in your ear with the light. Because of this, we can't look directly at the vestibular system to assess what is going on in there.

If we can't see the inner ear, then how do the goggles help with this? The infrared goggles allow us to see your eyes even when you are in the dark. Your eye movement during the assessment tells us so much about the inner ear, the brain, and how they are all working together. This is due to a reflex between your vestibular system and your eyes and also between your head movement, brain, and eyes. Pretty cool, right?

Why get an exam with the goggles?

If you've been to a healthcare provider to get assessed for your vertigo, migraine or concussion symptoms, it probably happened in a very bright office. It's important to get an exam in the goggles because in regular light, you can actually suppress the eye movement that we can see when you are in the dark. This means that you may not get the most accurate testing done if you are not in the goggles. If you're looking for someone to assess your dizziness, ask them if they have the goggles so you can get a more accurate assessment of what is causing your symptoms.

Have you had your symptoms assessed with the goggles or in regular light?

Reply to this if you have any questions. I'm happy to help!

I hope everyone who celebrates has a safe and happy 4th of July.