Bouts of dizziness and imbalance plagued Dan Berry for months. He coped with the debilitating spells on his own until the day he fell down at his office. Fearing a heart attack, coworkers rushed Berry to an emergency room, where he had a battery of tests that ruled out cardiovascular problems. His cardiologist suspected inner-ear issues and referred the Cape Girardeau lawyer to the Dizziness and Balance Center at Washington University. “I had a diagnosis and treatment plan the same day I went,” Berry says. “It was pretty remarkable.”
The center offers the most comprehensive testing in the region, says director Dr. Joel Goebel. High-tech diagnostic tools include rotational chair testing, high-velocity head movement testing, dynamic visual acuity testing, evoked response balance organ testing, posturography and more. Patients also benefit from the center’s connection to the Washington University network of specialized doctors and therapists. “If you want the combination of every test available, plus the clinical expertise of the audiologists and the neurotologist/otologist who review them, there’s nothing close to this in the city,” Goebel says. “Once you enter into this network, we can handle just about any issue.”
With more than 30 years experience in dizziness disorders, Goebel teaches around the world and attracts patients from across the nation. “Balance is all I do. I’ve focused on it all my career,” he says. This year, the center is expanding its services beyond industry-leading testing. “We’re offering a true ‘center’ concept,” he says. “If the referring physician just wants us to do tests and provide a summary of results, no problem. If they are unclear which tests to order, they can contact us for advice. If they don’t know what to do with the results, I’m also available to give that next level of guidance.” Goebel and his certified audiologists can provide treatment recommendations. For very difficult cases, Goebel will see patients during an office visit.
Although its approach is evolving, the mission of the Dizziness and Balance Center remains the same. “The sensation of vertigo is so disabling that when it happens again and again, it short-circuits people’s lives,” Goebel says. “We want to go from the very vague description of ‘dizziness’ to a more specific diagnosis and make a treatment plan.” Diagnoses are often related to problems with the inner ear, but dizziness also can be a symptom of migraines, changes in heart rhythm, problems with blood sugar, senility and other issues.
After about two hours of testing and consultation at the Dizziness and Balance Center, Berry learned he has Meniere’s Disease, a chronic inner-ear disorder that can be managed with medication. In the year since his diagnosis, he’s had no severe bouts of dizziness and no issues at all for many months. “They hit a bull’s-eye,” he says. “It didn’t require multiple visits and referrals to a bunch of specialists. It was a one-stop shop. I’m a businessman, and I don’t have time to spend weeks or months waiting for a diagnosis and treatment. They were able to give me a plan the same day so I could get back to work and back to living.”
Pictured: Dr. Joel Goebel
Photo: Bill Barrett
[The Dizziness and Balance Center at the Center for Advanced Medicine, located at 4921 Parkview Place, is a sophisticated testing facility staffed by expert physicians and audiologists. Pictured on the cover: Heather Monroe, AuD; Dr. Joel Goebel; and Belinda Sinks, AuD. For more information, call 314.362.7509.]
