Resources
Tools & Answers for Referring Attorneys
Screen clients faster, understand what each test measures, and get answers to common questions.
Client Screening
Post-Trauma Symptom Checklist
Use this checklist to decide whether a client may benefit from testing after head trauma or an accident.
Hearing & Ear-Related
- Hearing loss
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Other tinnitus sounds: buzzing, humming, roaring, clicking or pulsatile
- Ear pain
- Ear fullness or pressure
- Ear drainage
- Sensitivity to loud sounds
- Difficulty understanding speech
- Difficulty hearing in background noise
- Muffled hearing
- Distorted hearing
Balance, Dizziness & Vestibular
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Lightheadedness
- Imbalance
- Feeling unsteady
- Motion sensitivity
- Positionally related dizziness
- Rocking or swaying sensation
- Floating sensation
- Falls
- Headache with dizziness
- Nausea and/or vomiting with dizziness
- Difficulty focusing vision during movement
- Eye beating (nystagmus)
- Other visual disturbance with dizziness
- Sensitivity to bright lights
Cognitive & Post-Concussive
- Confusion
- Brain fog
- Memory difficulties
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue
Printable PDF version: [link coming soon]
Testing Glossary
What Each Test May Document
Plain-English descriptions of the tests in an NTDI evaluation.
VNG: Videonystagmography
Records eye movements to detect dysfunction of the inner-ear balance system, including nystagmus a normal MRI won't show.
DizzinessVertigoImbalance
VEMP: Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials
Tests the balance organs and their reflex pathways; can document concussion-related vestibular dysfunction.
Motion sensitivityImbalance
Posturography (Balance)
Measures standing balance and expresses functional impairment as a numeric stability score.
UnsteadinessFalls
Oculomotor Testing
Measures saccades, smooth pursuit and gaze stability: how accurately the eyes track and hold a target.
Visual disturbanceFocus during movement
Audiometry
Objectively documents the type and degree of hearing loss and speech understanding.
Hearing lossSpeech in noise
OAE: Otoacoustic Emissions
Checks how the cochlea's hair cells respond to sound; can help document cochlear damage.
TinnitusMuffled hearing
ABR & ECoG: Electrodiagnostics
Measure the electrical responses of the hearing nerve and inner ear.
Hearing changesEar fullness
Cognitive Testing
Measures attention, memory, processing speed and executive function against normative data.
Brain fogMemoryConcentration
Articles & Insights
Latest Resources
Coming soon
Evaluations & Evidence
Why a Normal MRI Doesn't Rule Out a Vestibular Injury
[Article summary]
Coming soon
Testing Explained
What VNG Testing Measures, in Plain English
[Article summary]
Coming soon
Conditions
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss After Head Trauma
[Article summary]
Coming soon
For Attorneys
How to Read an NTDI Attorney Summary
[Article summary]
Coming soon
Conditions
Balance Problems and Fall Risk After a Collision
[Article summary]
Coming soon
For Attorneys
When to Refer: Timing Objective Testing After Trauma
[Article summary]
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
For Attorneys
01What documentation do attorneys receive?
A plain-English clinical summary organized by domain, the physician's interpretation and recommendations, a causation opinion when appropriate, and the full technical data for review, deposition and trial.
02Do you accept liens?
Yes. NTDI accepts 50% of testing fees on a lien basis. Contact our office to confirm terms for a specific case.
03How do I refer a client?
Call or email our office. We coordinate scheduling directly with your office and your client.
04My client's MRI and CT were normal. Is testing still worthwhile?
Often, yes. Routine imaging shows structure; it usually can't measure how the balance, hearing and cognitive systems function. Functional testing can document abnormalities that imaging does not show.
05Is Dr. Jackson available for expert testimony?
Yes. Dr. Jackson provides medical record review with expert opinion, deposition and trial testimony, and IME support, subject to scheduling.
06How quickly will I receive the report?
Typical turnaround is [X business days] after testing is complete. Preliminary findings can often be shared sooner.
07Do you work with both plaintiff and defense counsel?
Yes. NTDI's role is objective clinical evaluation. Findings are reported as measured, whichever side makes the referral.
About Testing
01What is VNG testing?
Videonystagmography (VNG) uses infrared video goggles to record eye movements while the patient follows targets, changes position and receives mild air or water stimulation to each ear. Because the inner ear and eyes are linked, abnormal eye movements can reveal vestibular dysfunction.
02Why would someone be dizzy if their imaging is normal?
Many post-traumatic balance and hearing problems involve how the inner ear and its nerve pathways function, not visible structural damage. Functional tests measure that performance directly.
03How long does an evaluation take?
Most comprehensive evaluations take [X hours] and are completed in a single visit at our San Antonio location.
Still Have Questions?
Our team is happy to talk through whether testing fits your client's situation.