Massachusetts Eye and Ear Balance and Vestibular Center
at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital

250 Pond Street
Braintree, MA 02184

Services 

Mass. Eye and Ear’s Balance and Vestibular Center at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital uses both clinical expertise and the most advanced computerized technology to provide a complete evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for dizziness and balance disorders. We provide consultation on the diagnosis and treatment of balance disorders at Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital. 

The Balance and Vestibular Center is directed by Mass. Eye and Ear’s Dr. Steven Rauch.  Dr. Rauch is a physician-scientist specializing in otology. His clinical practice is heavily weighted toward medical otology and balance disorders. He has spent his entire career in this specialty and is considered one of the nation’s foremost authorities on vestibular and balance disorders. Dr. Rauch is also a Professor of Otology and Laryngology at Harvard Medical School.

Joining Dr. Rauch at the center is Dr. Gregory T. Whitman, an Otoneurologist who has academic subspecialty experience in geriatric neurology and has worked as a general neurologist. This diverse background in general and geriatric neurology as well as otoneurology is critical in sorting out the most likely causes of dizziness in an individual.

View Larger Map

Call for an Appointment: 617-573-6700

Office Hours:  M-F, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Lisa's Story of Migraine Dizziness

Diagnostic Testing

Vestibular testing is a way of measuring the performance of certain parts of the balance system.  It is not a measure of your symptoms and you do not need to feel dizzy on the day of testing.  The test battery is comprised of four parts:

• Rotary Chair Testing:  Patient sits in a pivoting chair turning gently while eye movements are recorded (using video).  This test is conducted to help evaluate sensitivity of the inner ears to turning motion.
• Visual-vestibular interaction (VVI):  Patients sits in the rotary chair turning gently while looking at moving targets.  This test is given to see how well the central nervous system can combine multiple motion cues.
• Videonystagmography (VNG):  Video goggles will be placed over eyes to monitor and record voluntary and reflexive eye movements.  The VNG helps measure how well the eyes, inner ears and brain help you keep your balance and position.  This test can often indicate whether a balance problem is in the inner ear, brain or nerves connecting them.
• Computerized Posture Platform (EquiTest):  Patient stands on a platform that senses weight shifting to see how well they can control their posture under a variety of conditions.  This test provides objective assessment of balance control and postural stability under conditions designed to reflect the challenges of daily life.

Physicians:

Steven D. Rauch, M.D.

Gregory T. Whitman, M.D.

Updated 1/5/12