WHAT ARE INFRARED VIDEO GOGGLES?
Infrared video goggles, sometimes referred to as “video frenzel goggles”, have been used in research and clinical practices since the 1970’s to make examination of a dizzy vestibular patient more effective by allowing a clinician to see eye movements that are often suppressed in room light. The patient wearing the goggles only sees darkness. This is also clinically known as visual fixation removed since the patient cannot see any object upon which they could fix their gaze. At the same time, the infrared cameras inside the goggles (one in front of each eye) allow the clinician to view the patient’s eyes via a computer or laptop screen.
How infrared light works: An infrared camera (also known as night vision) is a device that forms an image using infrared radiation, just as a traditional camera forms an image using visible light. Instead of the normal range of the visible light camera, infrared cameras utilize wavelengths at 940 nanometers in length. This invisible-to-the-eye light is what allows the infrared camera to sense and then have the connected screen display the patient’s eyes while they are in the dark inside the goggles.
How goggles improve diagnosis and treatment: When visualized via an infrared camera with visual fixation removed, specific eye movements can allow for a more efficient and accurate diagnosis and so lead to the best treatment for vestibular treatments, rather than a “best guess.” Effective treatments can get your patients better faster, and happy patients lead to repeat clientele and excellent word of mouth reports. You, your patients, and your company – everyone benefits!
Educational Resources
5 Strategies to Increase Referrals for Your Vestibular Practice
Once you’ve put the time, resources, and finances towards becoming an advanced vestibular clinician, it’s time to get your referrals flowing. Here are 5 strategies you can use to increase awareness, improve education, build relationships with referral sources, and grow your vestibular practice! 1.) Host education events and invite physicians and their patients Show that […]
5 Steps to Becoming a Skilled Vestibular Clinician
Are you looking to provide best practice care for patients with vertigo, dizziness, or imbalance? Vestibular assessment and/or care is currently being provided by clinicians in the following licensed professions: Physicians Audiologists Physical and Occupational Therapists Physical and Occupational Therapist Assistants Chiropractors/Functional Neurologists Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and RNs How you go about becoming a […]
How to Make A Fluid-Filled Vestibular Apparatus
We LOVE supporting vestibular education and as part of this, we are excited to share the model we have made to help researchers, clinicians, educators, students, and other inner-ear aficionados understand the fluid dynamics of the semicircular canals better. This project should take you about 6-10 hours to print (depending on the 3D printer and […]
Top 5 Signs that You’ve Found the Right Healthcare Provider to Help You with Your Vertigo
You are suffering with vertigo, dizziness, an “off-feeling,” imbalance, or all of the above. You may or may not know why you feel this way, but you definitely want to feel better! In addition, these sensations put you at increased risk for falls even if you are otherwise healthy and active. But how do you […]
How to 3D Print a solid Vestibular Apparatus Model
Here at Vestibular First, we are excited to share our knowledge and passion for the anatomy that makes up the vestibular system! Combining this knowledge with technology is at the heart of our company. There are only a limited amount of high-quality 3D models of the inner ear available, and none that are specific to […]
Visualizing Eye Movements
The primary use of infrared video goggles is to see a close-up image of the patient’s eye. While using infrared video goggles, you may see brisker and/or a greater variety in types of eye movements than you are used to seeing if your prior vestibular exams have been done in room light.
Refer to your vestibular education resources from prior education/courses and use mentorship, including online resources such as social media groups of experienced vestibular therapists if in-person mentorship is less available to you, to continually get feedback and refine your skill at interpreting various eye movements.
Research-Based Evidence
The articles listed below demonstrate how infrared video goggles and related technologies have been used in the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular disorders.
- Baba S, Fukumoto A, Aoyagi M, Koizumi Y, Ikezono T, Yagi T. (2004). A Comparative Study on the Observation of Spontaneous Nystagmus with Frenzel Glasses and an Infrared CCD Camera. Journal of Nippon Medical School. 71 (1): 25-29. Full text: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jnms/71/1/71_1_25/_pdf/-char/en
- Gananca M, Caovilla H, Gananca F. (2010). Electronystagmography versus videonystagmography. Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology (Impr.). 76 (3): 399-403. Full text: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/bjorl/v76n3/en_v76n3a21.pdf or http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=s1808-86942010000300021&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en
- Hain T. “Frenzel goggles.” Dizziness and Balance. Chicago Hearing and Balance, 3 August 2016. Web. Accessed 12 April 2018.
- Huh YE, Kim JS. (2013). Bedside evaluation of dizzy patients. Journal of Clinical Neurology. 9 (4): 203-213. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3840130/
- Kattah JC, Talkad AV, Wang DZ, Hsieh YH, Newman-Toker DE. (2009). HINTS to diagnose stroke in the acute vestibular syndrome: three-step bedside oculomotor examination more sensitive than early MRI diffusion-weighted imaging. Stroke. 40(11): 3504-3510.
- Klaus J, Strupp M, Siegbert K, Schuler O, Glasauer S, Brandt T. (2002). Suppression of eye movements improves balance. Brain. 125 (9): 2005-2011.
- Newman-Toker DE, Curthoys IS, Halmagyi GM. Diagnosing stroke in acute vertigo: the HINTS family of eye movement tests and the future of the “Eye ECG.” Seminars in Neurology. 35 (5): 506-521.
- “Nystagmus.” American Optometric Association. American Optometric Association, 2018. Web. Accessed 12 April 2018.
- Ruckenstein MJ, Shepard N. (2000). Balance function testing: a rational approach. Practical Issues in the Management of the Dizzy and Balance Disorder Patient. 33 (3): 507-517.
- Shepherd N. (2009). Signs and symptoms of central vestibular disorders. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/Articles/Signs-and-Symptoms-of-Central-Vestibular-Disorders/ Accessed 12 April 2018.
- Stern RM, Hu S, Anderson RB, Leibowitz HW, Koch KL. (1990). The effects of fixation and restricted visual field on vection-induced motion sickness. Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine. 61 (8): 712-715.
- Webb NA, Griffin MJ. (2002). Optokinetic stimuli: motion sickness, visual acuity, and eye movements. Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine. 73 (4): 351-358.
Vestibular Course Providers
| Organization | Course Topics | Format | Level | PT | PTA | OT | OTA | MD/DO | AuD | DC | PA/NP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 360 Neuro Health | Rehabilitation; Concussion | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | x | |||||
| American Academy of Audiology | Healthcare | Conference | Basic; Intermediate | x | |||||||
| American Academy of Otolaryngology | Healthcare | Conference | Intermediate; Advanced | x | |||||||
| APTA - Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy | Rehabilitation; Concussion | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | ||||||
| APTA - Combined Sections Meeting | Rehabilitation; Concussion; Pediatric | In-Person Courses | Intermediate; Advanced | x | |||||||
| APTA - University of Pittsburgh | Rehabilitation | In-Person Courses | Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | x | x | x | |||
| Association of Migraine Disorders | Healthcare | Conference | Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | ||||||
| Audiology Online | Healthcare | Online Courses | Basic; Intermediate; Advanced | x | |||||||
| Carrick Institute | Chiropractic Care | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | x | |||||
| Combined Otolaryngolgy Spring Meetings | Healthcare | In-Person Courses | Intermediate | x | |||||||
| Dizziness and Balance Rehabilitation Clinic in Canada | Rehabilitation; Concussion | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | x | x | ||||
| Duke Competency Based Renewal Course | Rehabilitation | In-Person Courses | Advanced | x | |||||||
| Education Resources, Inc. | Rehabilitation; Concussion; Cervicogenic Dizziness; Pediatric | In-Person Courses; Online Courses | Basic; Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | x | x | x | |||
| Elite Rehabilitation Solutions | Rehabilitation; Concussion | In-Person Courses; Online Courses | Basic; Intermediate | x | |||||||
| Emory University Competency Based Course | Rehabilitation | In-Person Courses | Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | x | |||||
| Functional Neurology Seminars | Chiropractic Care | Online Courses | Intermediate; Advanced | x | |||||||
| Great Lakes Seminars | Rehabilitation | In-Person Courses | Basic | x | |||||||
| Healthclick | Rehabilitation; Concussion | In-Person Courses; Online Courses | Basic; Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | x | x | ||||
| Integrative Clinical Concepts | Rehabilitation; Concussion | In-Person Courses | Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | ||||||
| International Association of Functional Neurology and Rehabilitation | Chiropractic Care | Conference | Basic; Intermediate; Advanced | x | |||||||
| International Symposium on Clinical Neuroscience | Chiropractic Care | Conference | Intermediate; Advanced | x | |||||||
| International Vestibular Conference | Healthcare; Rehabilitation | Conference | Intermediate; Advanced | x | |||||||
| Johns Hopkins Medicine | Healthcare | In-Person Courses | Advanced | x | |||||||
| Medbridge | Rehabilitation | Online Courses | Basic; Intermediate | x | x | x | x | ||||
| Motivations, Inc. | Rehabilitation; Pediatric | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate | x | x | x | |||||
| Myopain Seminars | Chiropractic Care | In-Person Courses | Basic | x | |||||||
| OTcourses.com | Rehabilitation | Online Courses | Basic; Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | ||||||
| PESI Rehab/Vyne Education | Rehabilitation | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||
| Posture and Balance Concepts | Rehabilitation | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate | x | x | x | x | ||||
| Shirley Ryan Ability Lab Academy | Rehabilitation | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate | x | x | x | x | ||||
| Skill Works | Rehabilitation; Cervicogenic Dizziness | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate | x | |||||||
| Specialty Therapy | Rehabilitation; Pediatric | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate; Advanced | x | x | x | x | ||||
| St. Joseph's/Candlar Center for Oto-Neurology | Healthcare | In-Person Courses | Intermediate | x | x | ||||||
| Summit Professional Education | Rehabilitation | Online Courses | Basic | x | x | x | x | ||||
| Therapy Network Seminars | Rehabilitation | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate | x | x | x | x | ||||
| University of Manchester | Healthcare | Online Courses | Intermediate; Advanced | x | |||||||
| Vestibular Schwannoma Conference | Healthcare | Conference | Intermediate; Advanced | x | |||||||
| Vestibular Seminars | Rehabilitation | In-Person Courses | Basic; Intermediate | x | x | x | x | x |