Research at the Dizziness and Balance Center is directed at better methods of identifying vestibular disorders and at improving treatment of those patients. Clinical research in these problems is base at the Center for Rehabilitation. Current projects include: Determining the effectiveness of physical therapy for patients with unilateral and bilateral vestibular loss; early identification of vestibular loss in patients that are receiving ototoxic medications; development of a new method for assessing visual acuity during head movement in patients with vestibular loss; decreasing the risk for falls in patients with balance problems, development of new methods of diagnosing vestibular deficits; and treatment of patients with excessive motion and sea sickness.

Education

Fellowships and Observerships In Dizziness and Eye Movement Center
Our approach to the evaluation and nonsurgical treatment of patients with dizziness and balance disorders will be demonstrated in the clinic. Key points in the history, an extensive clinical exam, pertinent vestibular testing (caloric, rotary chair and dynamic posturography), medical management, and vestibular rehabilitation will be stressed. All equipment is on site. Handouts in English are provided including the initial questionnaire, physical exam template, patient handouts for migraine and Meniere?s disease, and rehabilitative exercises for BPPV and vestibular hypofunction. This will be of interest to physicians and physical therapists.
It interested contact Dr. Tusa or Dr. Herdman at 404 712-0996 or by email (rtusa@emory.edu; sherdma@emory.edu ).

Personnel

• Susan Herdman, PT, PhD (Vestibular rehabilitation)
• Ronald Tusa, MD, PhD
• Vallabh Das, PhD (Post doc) Biomedical engineer
• Michael Schubert, PT, MS (graduate student)
  

Monkey Lab (Yerkes)

1,000 sq feet contains two eye movement coil systems capable of single cell physiologic recordings; one system has a high-torque rotary chair.

Personnel

• Michael Mustari, PhD (Neurophysiologist)
• Vallabh Das, PhD (Post doc) Biomedical engineer
• Ronald Tusa, MD, PhD
• John Economides, Vareria Fu (graduate students)
• Seji Ono (guest researcher from Japan)

Current projects:

Recovery of visual acuity in vestibular deficits (5 year NIH Grant).

• Determine the effectiveness of physical therapy for patients with vestibular loss.
• Establish the utility of dynamic visual acuity in following patient with vestibular deficits
• Determine the neural mechanisms of recover of vision.
• Mechanisms of visual tracking (5 year NIH Grant)
• Determine the cause of congenital and latent nystagmus in monkeys.
• Neural mechanism of smooth pursuit, ocular following and OKN
• Neural control of visual-vestibular behavior (5 year NIH Grant submitted)
• Determine the visual circuits mediating visual-vestibular interactions and VOR gain adaptation
• Treatment of congenital nystagmus with contact lens (Institutional Grant)