Do you sometimes feel dizzy or lose your balance when standing? Or do you have trouble hearing because of something wrong with your ear? Sometimes doctors ask you to do a special test to find the cause of these things. One such test that we are going to talk about today is the ENG.
What does ENG mean?
Simply put, this ENG, or Electronystagmography, test is done to see how well certain nerves in your brain are working. Specifically, it tests the nerves that control your eye movement, hearing, and balance . For example, if your doctor suspects that you have a balance disorder, or if you already know that you have one, they may ask you to do this ENG test.
What nerves are examined with ENG?
This ENG test mainly looks for rapid, involuntary movements of your eyes. We call this (Nystagmus) . It also checks the function of four major nerves inside your skull. Let's see what they are:
- Oculomotor nerve: This is the nerve that connects your eye muscles to the brain and helps you move your eyes back and forth.
- Trochlear nerve: This nerve also connects your eye muscles to the brain. It is this nerve that helps you look up or down your nose.
- Abducens nerve: This is also a nerve that connects the eye muscles to the brain. This nerve helps you keep your head straight and turn your eyes to the sides, that is, away from your nose.
- Vestibular nerve: This is the nerve that connects your inner ear to your brain and controls your balance and hearing. Specifically, it plays a major role in maintaining our body's balance.
When is an ENG test needed?
Your doctor may recommend an ENG test if you have symptoms that suggest you have a problem with your inner ear. For example:
- Balance problems: If you feel like you're going to wobble or fall when you're just standing.
- Dizziness and Vertigo: A feeling of spinning or spinning around you. Sometimes this can be severe.
- Hearing loss for no apparent reason.
Not only that, but this ENG test is also used to diagnose and treat certain medical conditions. Some of these conditions include:
- Acoustic neuroma: This is a non-cancerous tumor that develops in the brain.
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): This is a condition where you experience severe dizziness when you move your head. Labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis: These are infections or inflammations of the inner ear.
- Ménière's disease: This also causes symptoms such as dizziness, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss.
- Usher syndrome: This is a genetic disease that affects both hearing and vision.
What is the difference between ENG and VNG?
There is another test like ENG called VNG. VNG stands for (Videonystagmography) . There are some slight differences between the two.
In an ENG test, they stick small metal plates around your eyes. We call them electrodes . But in a VNG test, they use special glasses. They have infrared cameras installed in them.
Simply put, while ENG looks at the strength of your eye muscles, VNG looks more at how your eyes move. However, both tests give doctors similar information about your nerves and inner ear function.
Who does the ENG test?
An ENG test is usually performed by an audiologist, a doctor who specializes in hearing and balance disorders. So you don't have to worry about this, they are well-trained to perform these tests.
How to prepare for the ENG test?
Your doctor will give you clear instructions on how to prepare for the ENG test. In most cases, you won't need to do anything special.
However, you should tell your doctor about all the medications and vitamins you are taking. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking certain medications, such as sedatives or antivertigo medications, 24 to 48 hours before the test. Therefore, it is important to follow your doctor's instructions exactly.
How to take the ENG test?
Okay, now let's see how this ENG test is actually done. It uses small metal plates called electrodes . Your doctor will stick these electrodes above, below, and near the outer corners of your eyes. He will also stick another one on your forehead. These electrodes may be attached to a headband that you wear. Or they may be like a separate sticker patch that you apply.
During the test, you 'll be placed in a dark room. Your eye movements will be recorded using a patch. Imagine doing something like this:
- To stimulate your vestibular nerve , you'll be given a little cold and hot water, or a little air, and your ears will be pumped through. This may be a bit of a strange experience, but don't worry.
- To stimulate your oculomotor nerve and trochlear nerve , you are asked to stare at a light with only your eyes, without moving your head. You are asked to look at the light as it moves back and forth.
- You can stimulate your oculomotor nerve, trochlear nerve, and vestibular nerve , turn your head suddenly, or sit up quickly.
This ENG test usually takes about 90 minutes, which is about an hour and a half . So it's a bit of a time-consuming process.
What happens after the ENG test?
Once the test is over, you can usually go home the same day. You can also resume your normal activities. However, you may feel a little dizzy or nauseous during the test. This is normal. Most of the time, this will go away within the day. So don't worry too much about it.
What are the risks of the ENG test?
This ENG is a very low-risk test. That means there is very little chance of serious complications. Sometimes, you may feel a little pain in your back or neck because of the sudden head movement. But most people do not have any serious complications from this test.
Very rarely , when you put water in your ear, the high pressure in the ear can damage your eardrum. If you have previously had a perforation in your eardrum, your doctor may be reluctant to put water in your ear. Therefore, it is important to tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have.
What do ENG results mean?
Okay, now let's see what we can learn from the results of this test. If your eyes don't move as expected during the ENG test, it could mean that you have some damage to one of your cranial nerves . There can be many reasons why these nerves can be damaged. For example:
- Blood vessel disorders.
- Cholesteatoma is a skin growth that occurs in the ear.
- Certain medications, for example, some medications for malaria, diuretics, or some antibiotics.
- Movement disorders.
- Diseases of the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis .
- Infections like rubella .
- Traumatic injuries.
If your ENG results show abnormal eye movements, your doctor may order further diagnostic tests. Subsequent treatment and follow-up will depend on the underlying cause of the abnormal eye movements or nerve damage.
Remember briefly.
So, this test (Electronystagmography - ENG) measures the movement of your eyes and checks the health of your cranial nerves. In this test, electrodes are placed around your eyes and used to measure nerve activity. During the test, you may be given a warm or cold breeze to blow into your ears. You may also be asked to turn your head in certain directions or look at a light with your eyes.
If the ENG test shows abnormal eye movements, it could indicate a problem with one or more of your cranial nerves. Your doctor will then decide whether further tests are needed and what treatment is appropriate. So, if a doctor recommends such a test, don't be afraid to go ahead and get the details right before you go. This can be an important step in finding the exact cause of your condition.
` ENG, Electronystagmography, Balance, Dizziness, Neurological Examination, Eye Movement, Hearing
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