Here's what you can expect at your first visit to the UPMC Center for Balance Disorders.
Prior to your first office visit, we will ask you to complete several forms.
On the day of your appointment, please bring your completed questionnaires and any lab or imaging test results.
When you arrive, our clinical coordinator — a registered nurse — may interview you about the details of your complaints and discuss your responses to the questionnaires.
During your appointment, our team of balance disorders experts will evaluate and examine you to find an accurate diagnosis and best treatment plan.
An important part of your first visit is testing in the Vestibular (Balance) Laboratory.
Tests such as ocular motor screening and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials provide the team with information about your balance system.
Vestibular lab technicians may perform several different tests, depending on which ones your doctor believes are necessary.
Another important part of your evaluation is a physical exam by your doctor at the Balance Disorders Center.
He or she will test your ability to balance when walking and assess several functions like strength and coordination.
Hearing problems are often a cause of balance system issues.
A certified audiologist (a professional who evaluates hearing function) will measure your hearing to determine:
By measuring your hearing, your doctor can better determine why you are having a balance problem.
You will receive a detailed explanation of the findings of your evaluation.
Your doctor at the Balance Disorders Center will discuss the results, review treatment options, and give you a specific treatment plan.
Depending on your treatment plan, your doctor may:
We will send your primary care doctor a letter that includes the results of your tests.
The links below will open a new browser window.
From our Health Library:
Vestibular Disorders Association:
Call us to schedule an appointment at one of our Center for Balance Disorders locations.
UPMC Mercy Hearing and Balance Center
Phone: 412-647-2100
UPMC Center for Balance Disorders
Phone: 412-647-2125
Physical Therapy Office
Phone: 412-647-8091
University Ear, Nose, & Throat Specialists (Oakland/Main Office)
Phone: 412-647-2100
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