Dizziness & Balance Testing

Do you find yourself unsteady on your feet? Does turning your head send the room spinning?

Feeling dizzy can be a symptom of a number of different issues. Certain medications, illness, low blood pressure, or dehydration can all make you feel unsteady. Many times issues with balance are related to problems in your inner ear. If you feel dizzy even when you are sitting or lying down, you should schedule an appointment for balance testing.

Beach audiology is an American Institute of Balance Certified Practice.

Vestibular testing is important for several reasons, primarily related to diagnosing and managing balance and inner ear disorders.

Center of Speciality Care - The American Institute of Balance

In this interview about hearing loss and its effects on balance and dizziness, Dr. Jason Wigand Owner and Audiologist at Beach Audiology provides valuable insights into the connection between hearing and balance, and how audiology practitioners can evaluate and treat these issues. He emphasized the importance of getting tested early and how various therapies and exercises can help manage balance problems. If you or a loved one struggle with hearing loss or balance please contact us today!

What Are the Symptoms of a Balance Disorder?

Adults should have their hearing evaluated every one to three years depending on what their hearing tests reveal. The more significant your hearing loss, the more frequently you should be tested.

Balance disorders can be difficult to diagnose and may require multiple tests with a trained audiologist to uncover the cause. Common balance disorders include:

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
  • Labyrinthitis
  • Meniere's Disease
  • Cerebellar ataxia
  • Sensory ataxia

Balance issues like these will give you the following symptoms:

  • Persistent dizziness
  • Nausea
  • A sensation of floating
  • Panic Attacks
  • Blurred Vision
  • Pounding heartbeat
  • Difficulty walking

How Do You Treat Balance Disorders

Depending on your symptoms and overall health, we may recommend a battery of balance tests including a hearing test, Electronystagmography (ENG) tests, and posturography. These tests will not only evaluate the extent of your balance disorder but can indicate the cause as well.

If our tests uncover that you do have a balance disorder, we will talk you through which options will be best to help improve your symptoms. Changes in diet, vestibular rehabilitation therapy, and specialized exercises like the Epley Maneuver can all help treat dizziness and balance disorders. We can even show you how to do it properly at home.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

Your visit will include a variety of simple but technically advanced tests using computers and highly specialized equipment not available in most medical centers. There will be no needle sticks. Your appointment will last 60-90 minutes.

DOs and DON’Ts Prior to Your Appointment

So that we can obtain accurate results, we ask that you please review the following instructions carefully:

  1. Do bring your Photo ID, Insurance Card, and List of Medications.
  2. Do not wear any makeup, including mascara, eyeliner, or face lotions. These products might interfere with the recordings.
  3. Do not drink alcoholic beverages for 48 hours before the test.
  4. Certain medications can influence the body’s response to the test, thus giving a false or misleading result. If possible, please refrain from taking the following medications for 48 hours prior to your appointment. Anti-vertigo medicines: Anti-vert, Ru-vert, or Meclizine; Anti-nausea medicine: Atarax, Dramamine, Compazine, Antiver, Bucladin Phenergan, Thorazine, Scopalomine, Transdermal.
  5. Vital medications SHOULD NOT be stopped. Continue to take medications for heart, blood pressure, thyroid, anticoagulants, birth control, antidepressants, and diabetes. If you are unsure about discontinuing a particular medication, please call your physician to determine if it is medically safe for you to be without them for 48 hours.
  6. Eat lightly the day of your appointment. If your appointment is in the morning, you may have a light breakfast such as toast and juice. If your appointment is in the afternoon, eat a light breakfast and have a light snack for lunch.
  7. Testing may cause a sensation of motion that may linger. If possible, we encourage you to have someone accompany you to and from the appointment. However, if this is not possible, try to plan your day to include an extra 15 to 30 minutes after your test before leaving the office.
Hearing Loss Affects Your Health

Dizziness Can Affect Your Quality of Life.

Schedule a balance test today.

Beach Audiology

Myrtle Beach, SC

950 48th Ave N Suite 203Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Call or Text: 843-438-5062

Fax:
844-444-0901

Monday through Thursday, 9am – 5pm
Friday, by appointment only

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