Balance Assessment
Balance Assessment for Dizziness, Vertigo & More
If you are suffering from dizziness or other balance problems, a balance assessment from the trained audiologists at Audiology & Hearing Care may be part of the diagnosis process.
The spectrum of balance problems seen in our patients in Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Fayetteville, and beyond is broad, often making diagnosis and treatment difficult. Because the inner ear, which controls balance, works in conjunction with the brain, eyes and musculoskeletal system, dizziness and other balance issues can stem from and affect more than just the auditory system.
At Pinehurst Surgical Clinic, our audiologists are familiar with and have experience treating a wide range of balance issues, including vertigo and other related disorders.
Vertigo: Common Ear Balance Problems
Vertigo is the sense of movement of either oneself or the surrounding environment and must be differentiated from imbalance that is less often related to inner ear pathology.
Common causes of inner ear vertigo are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BBPV), viral labyrinthitis, Meniere’s disease and less common tumors of the vestibular system. Central causes of vertigo must also be taken into account, such as migraine-associated vertigo, cerebellar stroke, multiple sclerosis and vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
Balance Disorder Assessment Procedure
Assessment of balance disorders typically begins by obtaining a thorough medical history and having an ear, nose and throat physician perform a comprehensive physical exam, as well as a detailed neurologic exam.
Based on the physician’s assessment, additional testing to diagnose vestibular problems may be required. Testing may involve performing a hearing test (or audiogram) and occasionally, a videonystagmography (or VNG). If there is question of a brain tumor, stroke or other more serious problems, an MRI scan may be ordered. More information on MRI is located here.
Pinehurst Surgical Clinic is a multi-specialty clinic comprised of ten specialty centers located in a state-of-the-art surgical facility in Pinehurst, NC. Our audiologists provide balance assessments to diagnose balance disorders at our Pinehurst, Raeford, Rockingham, Sanford and Troy clinical offices, serving patients in Southern Pines, Fayetteville, Red Springs and all surrounding areas throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond.