• Providers and Locations
• Audiology
• Balance Center
  • Appointments
  • Balance Tests
  • Rehabilitation and Treatment Services
  • Our Team
  • Health Information
• Cranial Base Surgery
• Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• General Otolaryngology
• Head and Neck Cancer Surgery
• Rhinology (Sino-Nasal Conditions and Surgery)
• Otology/Neurotology
• Smell and Taste Disorders
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Transoral Robotic Surgery
• Voice, Speech and Swallowing Disorders

For Patients Make an Appointment Encyclopedia Articles about Ear, Nose and Throat

Dizziness is a complex complaint that can result from disorders of various organ systems and medical conditions. Penn Medicine’s Balance and Dizziness Center provides expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders relating to dizziness, vertigo and unsteadiness. Compassionate, patient-focused care has been the Center’s mission since its inception in 1993. The program is part of the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, which has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as best in the region and one of the Top 10 in the Country.

Given the complexity of the vestibular and balance systems, experience counts when it comes to diagnosis and treatment. Penn Medicine's clinicians have a combined experience of many decades diagnosing and treating even the most difficult cases. The Balance Center utilizes a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on the expertise of specialists in the area of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Neurology, Neuroradiology, Audiology, and Physical Therapy to address each patient’s medical and rehabilitative needs. This collaborative approach to patient care makes this facility a unique and outstanding resource for both patients and healthcare providers who work with individuals experiencing dizziness or balance problems.

Philadelphia Magazine has named Penn the Top Hospital for the evaluation and treatment of balance disorders.

Diagnostic Services

Skilled, experienced specialists with master's and/or clinical doctorate degrees in Audiology provide the Center’s diagnostic testing. Diagnostic services begin with a thorough neurotologic history obtained via a comprehensive questionnaire and a detailed interview aimed at understanding the patient’s symptoms and history. Based on the patient’s unique profile, decisions are made regarding which diagnostic test procedures would be most appropriate for diagnosing the cause of the presenting symptoms.

The maintenance of balance is extremely complex, requiring input from three areas:

• the vestibular system (inner-ear)
• the somatosensory system (sensory receptors in the skin, muscles and joints)
• the visual system.

If one or more of these systems is malfunctioning, it can result in one or more of the following:

• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• unsteadiness
• vertigo
• frequent falls.

In addition to assessing which of these systems may be the cause of a particular patient’s symptoms, it must also be determined how the patient is compensating for these abnormalities. Compensation status is extremely valuable information when formulating a patient’s treatment plan.

The Balance and Dizziness Center utilizes the most comprehensive and state-of-art equipment to evaluate symptom cause and determine compensation status. The tests are painless, but some of them may make the patient feel unsteady, dizzy, or occasionally nauseated for a few minutes. This does not happen to every patient, and most patients do not have any difficulty with the testing. The typical Balance Function Test lasts 1 1/2 - 3 hours. Each patient will receive one or more of the procedures listed in the Balance Test section. Review these instructions, which will provide you with more information in preparing for the tests.

Balance and Dizziness Center
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery
Five Silverstein
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

 

	Need an appointment? Request one online 24 hours/day, 7 days/week or call 800-789-PENN (7366) to speak to a referral counselor.