Sometimes things are not as easy to understand as we intend them to be, so we put together a list of the most frequently asked questions we receive about our program and the services we offer. If after reading through these examples your question still has not been answered, please call our office at (952) 345-3000 and we would be glad to help you!

1. Why do we have doctors, audiologists and physical therapists all in one facility?
2. Do I need a referral from my primary care physician?
3. What is Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) and how do we use it?
4. What is Videonystagmography (VNG) testing, is it the same as Electronystagmography (ENG) testing?
5. What is Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) and what is our program at NDBC?
6. I have all ready been through a vestibular rehab or balance program, why is NDBC different?

1. Why do we have doctors, audiologists and physical therapists all in one facility?
One of NDBC's key success factors has been the utilization of a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment. This means it's possible for our patients to be working with a team of professionals that may include doctors, audiologists, and physical therapists. Because our medical staff all work at the same facility, it allows for a true team approach and better patient results. This team approach and continuity of patient care is what makes our program so successful.

2. Do I need a referral from my primary care physician?
This depends on your insurance plan. Most insurance plans, such as Health Partners Open Access, and most Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Medical plans no longer require a referral from your doctor for therapy. All new patients being referred to NDBC for our comprehensive evaluation are initially seen by one of our doctors, regardless of whether or not the primary care physician was seen first. However, if your insurance plan requires a referral from your primary clinic for specialty services, then you’ll probably need one to come to NDBC. Check with your insurance plan to be certain, or ask a NDBC billing representative who would be happy to help you!

3. What is Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) and how do we use it?
At all NDBC clinics we utilize NeuroCom's Smart Equitest Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) for objectively measuring the functionality of our patients three sensory inputs when they are entering our Vestibular and Neurological rehabilitation programs. This establishes a starting point for the patient for their rehabilitation program and enables us to re-test the patient after a month to see how they are progressing. This gives us immediate feedback on the overall effectiveness of a patient's individualized therapy program and helps us to fine tune each patients program to maximize results. This approach to progressive treatment is what makes our clinic so unique and objective.

Patients also use the CDP in their daily treatment sessions with our physical therapists. Our treatment protocols push the patient beyond normal comfort levels in the safety of the CDP equipment to build confidence and re-learn their normal limits of stability and center balance. We then bring the patient outside the comfort of the CDP machine and have them work one on one with a physical therapist to practice what they learned in a real-life environment to further help build their confidence. For a more complete description on how we use CDP in our program see the CDP Section by clicking here.

4. What is Videonystagmography (VNG) testing, is it the same as Electronystagmography (ENG) testing?
VNG testing is considered the new standard for testing inner ear functions over Electronystagmography (ENG), because VNG measures the movements of the eyes directly through infrared cameras, instead of measuring the mastoid muscles around the eyes with electrodes like the previous ENG version. VNG testing is more accurate, more consistent, and more comfortable for the patient. By having the patient more comfortable and relaxed, consistent and accurate test results are more easily achieved.

VNG testing is used to determine if a vestibular (inner ear) disease may be causing a balance or dizziness problem, and is one of the only tests available today that can decipher between a unilateral (one ear) and bilateral (both ears) vestibular loss. To monitor the movements of the eyes, infrared goggles are placed around the eyes to record eye movements during testing. VNG testing is non-invasive, and only minor discomfort is felt by the patients during testing as a result of wearing goggles. Appointments usually last about 2 hours, and testing is covered by most insurances. For a more complete description on VNG testing see the VNG testing section by clicking here.

5. What is Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) and what is our program at NDBC?
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy has been demonstrated to be a highly effective treatment for most individuals with vestibular or central balance system disorders. In a number of studies, customized VRT programs have been reported to be significantly more effective in resolving symptoms than generic exercises and especially medications. The basis for the success of a VRT program is the use of already existing neural mechanisms for adaptation, plasticity, and compensation in the human brain. Compensation and adaptation have been demonstrated to be closely related to the direction, duration, frequency, and magnitude of the stimulus. Specifically designed VRT exercise protocols take advantage of this plasticity of the brain to increase sensitivity and restore symmetry, which results in an improvement in vestibuloocular control, an increase in the gain of the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR), better postural strategies, and increased levels of motor control for movement.

At all NDBC clinics we utilize NeuroCom's Smart Equitest Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) for objectively measuring the functionality of our patients three sensory inputs when they are entering our Vestibular and Neurological rehabilitation programs. This establishes a starting point for the patient for their rehabilitation program and enables us to re-test the patient after a month to see how they are progressing. This gives us immediate feedback on the overall effectiveness of a patient's individualized therapy program and helps us to fine tune each patients program to maximize results. Patients also use the CDP in their daily treatment sessions with our physical therapists. Our treatment protocols push the patient beyond normal comfort levels in the safety of the CDP equipment to build confidence and re-learn their normal limits of stability and center balance. We then bring the patient outside the comfort of the CDP machine and have them work one on one with a physical therapist to practice what they learned in a real-life environment to further help build their confidence.

6. I have all ready been through a vestibular rehab or balance program, why is NDBC different?
NDBC is different then other balance programs for three important reasons. First, our doctors perform a comprehensive dizziness and balance evaluation that is more thorough then would normally be received in a Ear Nose & Throat, Neurology, or family practice clinic environments. Our comprehensive medical evaluation is specifically designed to sort through the common conditions associated with dizziness and balance problems and get to the source of your condition. Our doctors look at each system in your body and how they are interacting together utilizing our comprehensive medical questionnaire. This information is then used during your diagnostic testing appointment to confirm the preliminary diagnosis of our doctors.

Second, we take a sophisticated approach to accurately diagnosing your condition utilizing our balance testing lab. Our diagnostic testing lab is a state-of-the-art facility. We have the most technologically advanced diagnostic testing equipment available today for diagnosing and treating dizziness and balance disorders. We also make considerable investments into our professionally trained and highly experienced audiology staff to provide the most thorough diagnostic evaluation available today for dizziness and balance impaired patients. This can be the most important part of the treatment process because this is when we confirm the initial diagnosis of our doctors so they can establish a prelimanary treatment plan. It's very important to start with an accurate diagnosis because this enables our patients to enter our rehabilitation programs under a correct treatment plan for their diagnosis.

Third, at all NDBC clinics we utilize NeuroCom's Smart Equitest Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) for objectively measuring the functionality of our patients three sensory inputs when they are entering our Vestibular and Neurological rehabilitation programs. CDP is complementary to VNG and other clinical tests designed to localize and categorize pathological mechanisms of balance disorders. CDP can identify and differentiate the functional impairments associated with the pathological processes, but by itself, CDP cannot diagnose the source of the problem.

This establishes a starting point for the patient for their rehabilitation program and enables us to re-test the patient after a month to see how they are progressing. This gives us immediate feedback on the overall effectiveness of a patient's individualized therapy program and helps us to fine tune each patients program to maximize results. Patients also use the CDP in their daily treatment sessions with our physical therapists. Our treatment protocols push the patient beyond normal comfort levels in the safety of the CDP equipment to build confidence and re-learn their normal limits of stability and center balance. We then bring the patient outside the comfort of the CDP machine and have them work one on one with a physical therapist to practice what they learned in a real-life environment to further help build their confidence.