| The Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery’s Vestibular & Balance Program is widely recognized as South Carolina’s premier clinic for patients with vertigo, dizziness, and other balance-related disorders. This success is explained by the presence of recently updated sophisticated testing equipment, the hiring of an experienced audiologist to direct and expand the program, the addition of another Neuro-Otologist with expertise in vestibular and balance disorders, a renewed effort to pursue research in the vestibular realm, and phenomenal support from the Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) – Head & Neck Surgery. Faculty within the Vestibular & Balance Program include two Neuro-Otologists and two clinical audiologists. Together, these individuals provide the program with an incredible resource of knowledge, ability and initiative. For patients that are deemed to be in need of further diagnostic assessment or rehabilitation, the Vestibular & Balance Program has established a solid network of providers, including Neurology and Physical Therapy, to which they can be referred to with total confidence. Clinically, the Vestibular & Balance Program has exploded since development of the program was made a priority in 2004. Within a single year, the number of patients seen for vestibular evaluation increased almost 40 percent. Insufficient data are available to accurately assess the logistics of patient visits for 2006; however, if the current trend continues, the number of patients seen in 2006 will outpace that of 2005. It is anticipated that as the Vestibular & Balance Program evolves towards Center status, more and more patients will seek out our expertise. Prior to the initiative to develop a Center in 2004, no research was performed as a part of the Vestibular & Balance Program. Through the efforts of Dr. Jack King, the Program is in the process of participating in a multi-institutional research project that will seek to develop a more accurate means of performing vestibular assessment on patients that have significant degrees of hearing loss. Recently, there have been discussions with faculty members in the Department of Rehabilitative Science within the College of Health Professions on a number of projects that pose strong potential for collaborative efforts. In addition, Drs. Ted Meyer and Jack King have identified several other topics of interest that will likely lead to the development of research projects. As the research component of the Vestibular & Balance Program becomes more established, it is anticipated that funded research also will become a mainstay.Key Faculty
Paul Lambert, MD was recruited in 1999 to serve as Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) – Head & Neck Surgery. Dr. Lambert brings the most experience to the Vestibular & Balance Program as an internationally-renowned Neuro-Otologist. His reputation is responsible for patients traveling extreme distances to seek help for
their vestibular disorders at MUSC. Andrea D. Hannan, Au.D., CCC-A joined the Audiology Division of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery as a Clinical Instructor in June 2005 and expanded her clinical activities to include vestibular and balance testing in June 2006. Andrea completed her B.A. in Speech and Hearing Sciences (1990) and her M.A. in Audiology (1992) at the University of Maryland at College Park, and received her Au.D. in August 2003 from the Arizona School of Health Sciences in Mesa, AZ. Her background in vestibular and balance testing involves clinical experiences at the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, CA, and The New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, NY. It is anticipated that she will play an important role in the continued expansion and development of the Vestibular & Balance Program. Jack King, PhD, CCC-A was recruited in 2004 to become the Director of the Vestibular & Balance Program at MUSC. In addition to having more than 10 years of experience with vestibular testing and rehabilitation, he has culled his experience from multiple institutions. Dr. King was one of three investigators at the University of Virginia to receive a provisional patient for an invention that is the hallmark of a current grant preparation that seeks to improve vestibular assessment of patients with significant hearing loss. Ted Meyer, MD, PhD was recruited in 2004 to direct the Cochlear Implant Program, as well as provide Neuro-Otology support for the Vestibular and Balance Program. His extensive clinical and research training has been instrumental in supporting the program’s initiatives in these two areas. Key Equipment/Resources
The Vestibular & Balance Program is the most advanced facility available in South Carolina. Our present capabilities include full diagnostic vestibular assessment that consists of oculomotor, rotational chair, position, and caloric testing. As of this time, MUSC appears to be the only facility in the state that offers rotational chair assessment. In 2005, the overall testing system was updated to the latest version of the hardware and software, thereby greatly enhancing our clinical, research and training capabilities. Efforts are currently in progress to update the existing Equitest posturography test platform, which is the only equipment that is outmoded.
Aside from equipment, the Vestibular & Balance Program also boasts strong relationships with other clinical departments at MUSC that are necessary complements to the overall evaluation and rehabilitation of patients with vestibular and balance disorders. Research
At present, collaborative efforts are underway with Jorge E Gonzalez, Ph.D. (Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania), Michael I. Fuller, M.S. (University of Virginia), and Frederick E. Cobb, Ph.D. (Bay Pines VA Medical Center) to investigate the clinical utility of a vibrotactile task device (VTD) to maintain mental alertness in patients with significant hearing loss during vestibular testing. Submission for NIH funding is pending. |
