Balance Clinic

Balance assessments involve the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Audiology Departments. Other services such as Physiotherapy and Neurology may also be involved. 

The primary aim is to help patients manage their dizziness/ balance problems.  

If you are experiencing difficulties with your balance, you should first see your GP. Your GP will carry out an assessment and decide whether it will be appropriate to refer you for a balance assessment at Nobles Hospital.  

Balance issues

There can be a number of different reasons for balance disturbances and for some people they are barely noticeable whilst in others it can prevent them from performing everyday tasks. 

Depending on the cause, an episode of vertigo may last several seconds, minutes, hours or days. 

Some possible causes include the following conditions:

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
• Meniere’s disease
• Labyrinthitis

Your ENT and Audiology appointment

When you attend your appointment at the hospital, a detailed history will be taken from you recording your:

• balance problems
• general health (including any spinal or neck problems that will prevent certain balance tests being performed)
• lifestyle

Your ears will be examined and they will check your middle ear function. You will also have hearing and balance tests.

After diagnosis

When your balance disorder has been diagnosed, you may be required to do some rehabilitation exercises. They may include some visual gaze, head and body movement exercises which you will be expected to carry out at home.

You may also be referred to a physiotherapist to help with muscles and joints.