Hello all! My name is Marcella Michaels and I’m a recent addition to our team of audiologists here at Jacksonville Hearing and Balance Institute. I am originally from New Jersey and I completed my Bachelors degree in Linguistics at Montclair State University. I completed my doctorate in audiology from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas and…
View detailsJoin us and the Jacksonville Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) this Saturday for their “Ask an Audiologist” event featuring our very own audiologist, Dr. Isabella Hillerby. She will cover answers to general questions regarding hearing loss and treatment to specific questions about amplification options and balance. Dr. Hillerby will also host a…
View detailsThe organs responsible for hearing and balance are located in the same region of the body, as well as share the same neural connection to the brain. When there is an issue with one system, it is not uncommon for the other to be affected. We use information that we hear as a reference point…
View detailsBilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) is damage to the vestibular system in the inner ear, which is part of the balance system. In BVP both sides are affected. Basically, it is a reduced or absent vestibular function on both sides, resulting from deficits in the labyrinths, vestibular nerves, or their combination. BVP is also known as bilateral…
View detailsMal de Debarquement Syndrome is a disorder of the vestibular system that is not well understood. It is described as a phantom perception of self-motion. It is common to have a sense of motion, rocking, or swaying after exposure to prolonged episodes of passive motion. In normal individuals, that rocking or swaying perception may last…
View detailsAccording to the National Center on Aging, 1 in 4 people over the age of 65 fall each year. Even more concerning, falls often result in hospitalization or nursing home stays, and are the top cause of fatal injury in aging adults. Up to 75% of falls occur in a person’s home, so it is…
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Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a common inner ear problem that causes short episodes of sudden vertigo, or the sensation that the room is spinning. Some people also have symptoms of lightheadedness, nausea, or vomiting that occur as well. BPPV episodes are typically very short, lasting only seconds to a few minutes. Symptoms of…
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