Romberg Balance Test

What Does the Romberg Balance Test Determine?

The Romberg balance test is supposed to determine whether a person is intoxicated. Essentially, it is a way to measure a person’s reaction time, ability to pay attention to directions, and muscle control and coordination.

The clues of intoxication the officer will be looking for include:

• The individual’s ability to listen to instructions: The individual must perform the test exactly as the officer explained it. For example, they must tilt their head back before they close their eyes, they cannot start until the officer tells them to do so, and they must say “stop” and not some other word like “done” or “finished” to indicate that they have estimated 30 seconds have passed. Not doing things precisely suggests to the officer that the individual is impaired.
• The individual’s ability to balance: While the individual is estimating the passage of 30 seconds, the officer will be monitoring them to see if they sway in any direction. Moving a few inches left or right, forward or backward, or in a circular motion is considered an indicator of impairment.
• The individual’s ability to estimate the passage of time: The individual is required to say “stop” after they believe that 30 seconds have passed since they began the assessment. Finishing the test within 25 to 35 seconds is acceptable. However, more than that in either direction is considered a failure.
• The individual’s muscle control: The officer will be watching the individual closely to see if the person’s eyelids jerk or they make any involuntary movements. Minor spasms might suggest that the individual is under the influence of alcohol/drugs.
• The individual’s statements: The officer will also be listening to the individual throughout the test to see if the person says anything that may be an admission of being drunk or high.

Can Other Factors Besides Impairment Affect Performance?

Performance on the Romberg test isn’t only affected by alcohol or drug intoxication. A range of other things can cause a person to do something misconstrued as an indicator of impairment. Thus, even a completely sober person can find themselves under arrest on suspicion of DUI because of the assessment results.

Possible factors that can affect Romberg test performance include, but are not limited to:

• Loud noises making it difficult to hear instructions
• Medical condition, age, or injury affecting balance
• Neurological disorders making it challenging to process instructions
• Nerves making it hard to control muscle movement
• Exposure to a new assessment making it difficult to perform right the first time

Additionally, the officer can contribute to a person’s poor performance. They might not clearly give the instructions, leaving the individual confused about what’s required of them. The officer also might not fully demonstrate the physical tasks the individual must do, such as tilting their head back or closing their eyes.