Our patient care coordinator (PCC) will schedule your initial office appointment. They will answer any questions or concerns you have prior to your appointment. All insurance if verified and checked prior to your appointment as a courtesy. A patient cost estimate will be provided to you for both diagnosis and treatment. We are In-Network with most major insurance carriers. The PCC will attend to your needs following your visit, including arranging additional clinical appointments for treatment, if necessary.

It is imperative that you read all the patient information packet so that you are prepared for your visit. If you have questions about your upcoming or recent visit or need assistance with new-patient paperwork, please contact us. Due to the high demand for our testing and treatment, we require a 48 hours cancellation notice or a fee of $150 will be assessed to you.

Prior to your examination, an audiologist will call you to discuss the reason for your visit and review any symptoms you might be experiencing. Please bring any additional visits or testing you have had done at other facilities so this can also be reviewed. The clinician will explain what to expect during the exam and testing. All testing utilizes the latest medical technology to confirm diagnostic accuracy.  Testing typically lasts 3-3.5 hours and all testing is non-invasive and essential to the assessment and overall evaluation of your ear health. Once your testing is complete, each component of testing is carefully analyzed and reviewed. You will be scheduled for a results appointment for 2-5 days after your assessment.

Treatment is an important factor following an accurate diagnosis of your vestibular system. The success and outcome can be affected by your overall health, age, cognitive abilities, other related disorders, and compliance with our program recommendations. The treatment is specifically tailored to your inner ear dysfunction, so having the extensive diagnostic test is essential. The typical course of treatment for vestibular dysfunction takes between 5-7 weeks. Typically when damage has occurred in the vestibular system there are many processes that have to be rehabilitated in order for your symptoms to calm down and subside. Dizzy patients typically visit us twice a week for Advanced Vestibular Treatment^TM (AVT) for up to six weeks or until their balance has returned and symptoms have subsided. Many notice improvements in as little as week 2. A detailed summary report will also be sent to your referring physician, if applicable, regarding our conclusions and recommendations.

• Our Proprietary Approach - Complete assessment of the vestibular system and treatments specifically related to the dysfunction
• Highly Successful Results - Our treatment program has an 85% success rate in reducing the frequency, severity and intensity of dizziness and imbalance
• Everything within an Easy-to-Access Setting – No Traveling Around, Easily accessible facility

Approach: We are proud to be recognized as one of the country’s leading practices for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders. We combine highly advanced medical technology and our expertise with the vestibular system of the inner ear. Our Institute is one of the most comprehensive practices in the U.S. offering patient-friendly testing and treatment programs for dizziness, vertigo and unsteadiness.
 
Results: All clinical staff focus their research and expertise on vestibular (inner ear) disorders. The Institute’s board-certified vestibular audiologists offer innovative diagnosis and treatment of BPPV, labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, vestibular equivalent migraine and motion sensitivity. To date, more than 85% of patients using our treatment have demonstrated measurable, clinical improvement following personalized dizziness treatment.
 
Inclusive, easy to access setting: Our central location is designed with patient comfort in mind to eliminate the many frustrations and time-consuming factors that patients face. All testing and treatment are done in one place – it's not necessary to travel around to endless doctors and therapies.

Anyone can refer themselves to MDBI but if your insurance requires a referral, this must be obtained prior to your appointment. We receive many referrals from primary care physicians and physician specialists. We recommend you check with your own insurance company, as coverage varies greatly plan to plan. As a service to our prospective patients, we are happy to work with you and your insurance company to check on any needed authorizations and coverage benefits.

Our balance evaluation takes a comprehensive look at the vestibular system through the interview, exam, diagnostic testing and analysis. This process takes between 3-4 hours. Depending on results, a customized recommendation plan involving Advanced Vestibular Treatment™ (AVT) may be recommended. Because we want to identify and correct your condition as quickly as possible, our testing is thorough. We are one of the few Institutes in the country that not only assesses but also treats all 10 end organs of the inner ear – the important pathway to the brain and your body’s sole balance center.

Our clinical staff strives to ease any concerns you may have from the start. They understand that you really don’t feel at your best. Please allow 4 hours for this appointment, and feel free to bring along a friend or family member. We’ll make you both as comfortable as we can.

Prior to the exam and testing, we review your medical history, the reason for your visit and any symptoms you might be experiencing. Each testing procedure differs slightly. Before testing, we’ll discuss what we’re doing and why.

Approximately 2-4 days after your balance evaluation, a detailed report containing evaluation results, conclusions and recommendations will be sent to your referring physician (if applicable). Remember that we are here to help support you through decisions about the best course of action.

 Advanced Vestibular Treatment (AVT) is a highly effective medically-based approach used by our Institute to diagnose and treat dizziness, vertigo, and balance disorders. Studies show that our customized AVT program is significantly more effective in resolving symptoms than traditional vestibular therapy, medication or general balance exercises alone. Our AVT program consists of twice weekly in-clinic therapy sessions tailored to your vestibular disorder. In addition to the clinic sessions, a home web-based program will be assigned to you for you to do 12 minutes - twice daily, on the days  you are not in clinic. Our clinic and home treatments are essential for the repair of your system. Compliance with these things directly correlates to your system recovery.

While both are forms of therapy, AVT is a highly effective and far superior form of vestibular rehabilitation. AVT is solely directed by our audiologists and individualized specifically to each patient’s needs and treatment plan. The result is that 85% of patients completing AVT have success, and don’t live with dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance anymore. All of our audiologists are specialists who focus their work and research on the vestibular system of the inner ear, where the majority of balance disorders begin. VRT, which is conducted through physical or occupational therapy, does not soley focus on the vestibular system. Many of our patients have already been in traditional PT for vestibular rehab with little to no improvement and find significant improvements with our treatment.

AVT stems from years of evidence-based research and has shown to outperform traditional vestibular rehabilitation with its lasting results. We have documented years of successful results using our AVT approach. In essence, we’re teaching the brain to fix itself by taking advantage of the brain’s natural plasticity and ability to restore symmetry and sensitivity. Successful AVT improves each patient’s overall stability and motor control. The eyes play an important role, as each patient’s vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is studied, strengthened and ultimately, enhanced. Our treatment combines both physical and ocular exercise movements that target and develop those weakened response areas.

Sessions are generally 30 minutes. Patients typically visit 2 times weekly for up to 8 weeks or until their dysfunction is resolved. Additionally, patients are provided with a personalized, home-based exercise and video therapy program that they can perform independently on the days they do not come in to clinic sessions.

Testing has a purpose. It determines the cause of your symptoms and helps our audiologists pinpoint an accurate diagnosis so treatment and relief can begin. Each patient reacts differently during testing. We will do everything possible to keep you comfortable. It is never our intention for patients to participate in anything that may bring about discomfort.

Our chairs use slow and calculated movements to effectively diagnose and treat balance disorders. The positional chairs allow us to place patients at deeper angles that cannot be achieved with more traditional table maneuvers. There’s also less likelihood of injury by avoiding any manipulation of the head or neck. The rotational chairs allow us to isolate specific portions of the vestibular system while limiting the sensation of movement. And while each patient reacts differently, we try to minimize any discomfort patients may experience while in our clinical chairs.

We see hundreds of patients per year for testing and we’re confident you will do just fine with our approach and attention to your comfort. We prefer to complete testing during one session, unless it becomes absolutely necessary to split the evaluation due to unforeseen circumstances.

We’ll take good care of you. Appropriate rest time is included and you’ll even have time to attend to those things of importance. Please don’t hesitate to ask us how we can make your experience more pleasant.