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ForwardMilitary Vestibular Assessment and Rehabilitation – Beginner; Audiology
This Beginner course is appropriate for clinicians with limited (<2 years vestibular experience) evaluating and treating individuals with dizziness. This course will feature didactic and laboratory instruction covering: introduction to peripheral and central vestibular anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology; assessment of the patient with dizziness; vestibular function testing; assessment and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and other disorders of the peripheral vestibular system; clinical and instrumented tests and measures; rehabilitation techniques for the patient with dizziness; and special considerations and return to duty decision making for the military population.
Target Audience
This activity provides continuing education for physical therapists and occupational therapists within DOD and VA. A certificate of attendance is available for other attendees.
Learning Objectives
- Explain recent Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) report that describes vestibular coding within the active-duty population
- Describe impairments to the vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) and implications for symptoms
- Describe the consensus-based definitions of cardinal symptoms and signs of vestibular dysfunction
- Perform a bedside screen for saccades, pursuit and vergence
- Perform a cover/uncover test for ocular alignment
- Identify the fast phase of nystagmus in left-beating and right-beating nystagmus, up-beating and down-beating nystagmus and left-torsional and right-torsional nystagmus
- Instruct a patient on proper performance of gaze stabilization exercises
- Perform a bedside exam to assess the vestibular ocular reflex
- Interpret findings from a bedside exam to determine vestibular diagnosis
- List three subjective reports suggestive of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Perform an appropriate Roll Test for horizontal canal BPPV
- Differentiate between possible vestibular migraine and possible BPPV based on timing and triggers of symptoms.
- Name a questionnaire that assesses anxiety and depression that may be useful in an examination of a patient with dizziness
- Describe the purpose of video head impulse testing (vHIT)
- Interpret basic vHIT results to differentiate peripheral hypofunction from normal performance
- Describe the use and application of the caloric test for evaluation of vestibular disorders, the ocular vestibular myogenic evoked potential testing for vestibular evaluation and the cervical vestibular myogenic evoked potential testing for evaluation of vestibular disorders
- Explain how test parameters (e.g. frequency, velocity, gain, phase) reflect peripheral and central vestibular function.
- Interpret rotational chair test results to distinguish normal findings from vestibular hypofunction
- Describe the principles of rotational chair testing to assess VOR function
- Describe the five clinical subtypes of concussion and two symptom modifiers for concussion
- Identify patterns of eye movements that may indicate central involvement
- Describe how anxiety is a common symptom seen after concussion and that symptoms may overlap with post-concussion symptoms
- Describe the role of physical therapy (PT) for patients with dizziness and/or balance complaints
- Explain when to refer a patient with dizziness and/or balance complaints to PT
- Identify key features of the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation 2 and the Progressive Return to Activity
- Explain the variability in vestibular test findings in the chronic dizzy Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) literature
- Assess and treat impairments of the vestibular ocular reflex and posterior canal benign paroxysmal position vertigo
Resources
Carrie Hoppes, P.T., Ph.D., NCS, OCS, ATC, CSCS. Presenter has no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) relating to the course content or with ineligible companies to disclose.
Karen Lambert, P.T., D.P.T. Presenter has no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) relating to the course content or with ineligible companies to disclose.
LTC Angela Weston, P.T. Presenters have no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) relating
to the course content or with ineligible companies to disclose.
Robin Pinto, Au.D. Presenters have no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) relating
to the course content or with ineligible companies to disclose.
Devin McCaslin, Ph.D. Dr. McCaslin is a consultant for Interacoustics and Oticon Medicals. All relevant financial relationships have been resolved.
Disclosure: DHA J-7 staff, planners, authors, faculty, and content reviewers for this educational activity have no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Available Credit
- 26.00 ASHA
Course # is ABIT2407-002
continuing education Level
2.6 ASHA CEUs
DHA, J-7, CEPO is approved by the Continuing Education board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to provide continuing education activities in speech-language pathology, and audiology. ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures.
- 26.00 Attendance
Requirements: CE/CME certificates are awarded to participants who fully complete the activity, successfully submit the evaluation survey, and pass the posttest. The deadline to claim credit is Jan 30, 2026.
Access Code: Some activities require an access code to register or claim credit. Please contact the organization providing the activity for the access code. The Continuing Education Program Office (CEPO) does not provide access codes.
Accommodations: Please contact the course instructor to inquire about accommodations. For additional accommodation requests and/or technical support, email [email protected].