Balance Tests to Evaluate Dizziness

Table 2: Common Balance Tests and Expected Results Related to Specific Diagnosis
Tests	BPPV	UVH	BVH	Central lesion
Romberg Test (Fig.1)	Negative	Acute: positive Chronic: negative	Acute: positive Chronic: negative	Negative
Tandem Romberg Test	Negative	Positive, eye closed	Positive	Positive
Single-legged Stance	Negative	May be positive	Acute: positive Chronic: negative	May be unable to perform
Gait	Normal	Acute: wide-based, slow, decreased arm swing and trunk rotation Compensated: normal	Acute: wide-based, slow, decreased arm swing and trunk rotation Compensated: mild gait deviation	Pronounced ataxia
Turn head While Waking	May produce slight unsteadiness	Acute: may not keep balance Compensated: normal	May not keep balance or slows cadence	May not keep balance, increased ataxia
BPPV = benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; UVH = unilateral vestibular hypofunction; BVH = bilateral vestibular hypofunction Fig.1: Using the Romberg test to evaluate the dizziness.