What is the primary objective of vestibular testing?

The primary objective of vestibular testing is to evaluate balance function and determine the cause of dizziness or vertigo. This type of testing focuses on assessing the vestibular system, which is crucial for maintaining balance and spatial orientation. When a patient experiences symptoms such as dizziness or vertigo, it is essential to identify whether these symptoms are due to inner ear dysfunction or other central mechanisms.

Vestibular assessments, including tests like videonystagmography (VNG) or cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP), provide valuable information about how well the vestibular system is functioning. They can help in diagnosing conditions such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, or Meniere's disease, which directly pertain to balance and dizziness.

Other options, while important in their respective contexts, do not align with the primary aim of vestibular testing. Assessing hearing ability in different frequencies focuses on audiometric evaluation, measuring sound sensitivity pertains to auditory threshold determination, and diagnosing external ear infections is more relevant to otologic examinations rather than vestibular function. Therefore, the selection emphasizing balance function and the investigation into dizziness or vertigo accurately captures the essence of vestibular testing's primary objective