Balance & Vestibular Testing

Chicagoland's Leader in Advanced Vestibular & Dizziness Diagnostics

If you have been living with dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance and still do not have answers, you are not alone, and you are in the right place.

At Northwest Speech and Hearing Center, we are the only private practice in the Chicagoland area offering this level of advanced vestibular testing.

While most clinics rely on standard testing alone, we evaluate every major component of the balance system to pinpoint the exact source of your symptoms and guide you toward the right treatment so you can feel like yourself again.

Schedule a Balance Assessment

Understanding Your Balance System

Your sense of balance depends on a complex partnership between your inner ear, your vision, your muscles, and your central nervous system. When any part of this system is disrupted, even simple daily activities can feel overwhelming.

What makes dizziness particularly challenging is that symptoms like vertigo, imbalance, rocking sensations, and visual motion sensitivity can each point to very different causes. Standard testing often evaluates only a portion of the balance system, which is why so many patients spend months searching for answers.

At Northwest Speech and Hearing Center, we evaluate every major component of your balance system, not just the most common ones, so that nothing is overlooked and your diagnosis reflects the full picture of what is happening, often in a single visit.

From your first evaluation to your treatment plan, we work closely with a network of specialists throughout Chicagoland to make sure your care is as complete and connected as your diagnosis.

Learn more about the conditions we treat and what to expect during your assessment.

Why Patients Choose Northwest Speech and Hearing Center

Most comprehensive vestibular test battery in the region
Ability to test all six semicircular canals, not just the lateral canals
Advanced positional and torsional analysis for accurate BPPV diagnosis
Central, cervical, and functional assessments rarely offered in standard clinics
Faster, more precise diagnosis and targeted treatment planning
State-of-the-art technology operated by highly trained clinicians
Appointments available within 1-2 weeks

Schedule Balance Assessment

Our Vestibular Specialists

You will be cared for by audiologists who have dedicated their careers to understanding dizziness and balance disorders.

Kimberley Franczyk, AuD

Doctor of Audiology

Dr. Franczyk is a Doctor of Audiology with a specialized focus on dizziness and balance, evaluating patients of all ages. With extensive experience at major medical centers, including Rush University Medical Center, she has spent her career helping patients find the root cause of their balance problems.

She listens carefully to each patient's concerns and customizes her approach to testing accordingly. Dr. Franczyk is able to differentiate disorders caused by inner ear dysfunction from those originating in the cervical spine or central nervous system. This level of precision helps ensure that your care plan is focused on the right cause from the start.

Dr. Franczyk is a past president of the Illinois Academy of Audiology and a Fellow in the American Academy of Audiology.

Dr. Michelle Petrak, PhD

Dr. Petrak brings over 30 years of experience in vestibular research and has helped develop some of the diagnostic tools used by clinicians around the world.

She holds a doctorate in electrophysiology and biomolecular electronics from Wayne State University.

In 2024, Dr. Petrak was inducted into the Barany Society, a prestigious international organization of the world's leading experts in vestibular science.

This honor recognizes her lifetime of contributions to advancing how we diagnose and treat balance disorders.

When she is not traveling internationally for research, Dr. Petrak sees patients at Northwest Speech and Hearing Center.

"I can't say enough good things about this practice. I had SSHL coupled with severe vertigo [...] ALL the doctors in the practice are so kind and actually listen and try to understand your exact situation and what they can do to help [...] talking with Dr. Franczyk she also approached my care with the same patience and listening to my troubles and concerns, I truly have been blessed to have picked such a great group of individuals."

— Northwest Speech and Hearing Center Verified Patient

Conditions We Can Help With

Balance problems can have many different causes.

Our comprehensive testing helps identify what is happening so you can receive the most appropriate care.

BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)

This is the most common cause of vertigo. BPPV happens when tiny calcium crystals in your inner ear become dislodged and move into areas where they do not belong. This causes brief but intense spinning sensations when you move your head in certain ways, such as rolling over in bed or looking up.

The good news: BPPV is highly treatable. Many patients experience significant relief in just one or two sessions through simple repositioning.

Meniere's Disease

Meniere's disease is a condition of the inner ear that causes episodes of vertigo lasting anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours. You may also experience fluctuating hearing loss, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), and a feeling of fullness or pressure in the affected ear.

While there is no cure for Meniere's disease, proper diagnosis is essential because symptoms can be managed effectively with the right treatment plan.

Central Dizziness

Sometimes dizziness originates from the brain or nervous system rather than the inner ear. This can be caused by conditions such as vestibular migraine or other neurological issues.

Our testing can help determine whether your symptoms are coming from your inner ear or may require further evaluation by a neurologist.

Cervical Dizziness

Also called cervicogenic dizziness, this condition causes both neck pain and dizziness. It can result from neck injuries such as whiplash, neck arthritis, or poor posture over time.

People with cervical dizziness often notice their symptoms are triggered or worsened by neck movement.

Fall Risk Assessment

Falls are one of the leading health concerns for adults over 60. One in three adults aged 65 or older experiences a fall each year, and many of these falls are preventable.

Our balance assessments evaluate all the systems that contribute to your stability. Identifying risk factors early can help you take steps to stay safe and maintain your independence.

POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

POTS is a condition that affects your body's ability to regulate blood flow when you move from lying down or sitting to standing. This can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, a racing heart rate, fatigue, and brain fog. While POTS is not life-threatening, it can significantly interfere with daily life.

Because its symptoms overlap with many other conditions, POTS is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. Proper vestibular testing can help determine whether your dizziness and balance difficulties are connected to POTS, so you can be directed toward the right care.

3PD or PPPD (Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness)

PPPD is a condition that causes frequent dizziness most days for at least three months. Rather than spinning, the sensation often feels like swaying or rocking, and symptoms tend to worsen when you are upright or taking in a lot of visual input, such as scrolling on your phone or walking through a busy store.

PPPD usually develops after an initial episode of dizziness or balance disruption, whether that is vertigo, a vestibular migraine, or a concussion. Even after that event resolves, the brain stays on high alert for balance disruptions, making it difficult to feel steady.

Identifying PPPD is an important step, because with the right diagnosis, a personalized care plan combining vestibular rehabilitation, therapy, and when appropriate, medication, can help you find your footing again.

"I was very anxious about having the vestibular testing and they were very kind and understanding.

They did everything they could to help me relax."

— Northwest Speech and Hearing Center Verified Patient

What to Expect During Your Assessment

We know that dealing with dizziness can be frustrating and even frightening.

Our team is here to listen, to take your concerns seriously, and to find answers.

Your evaluation will begin with a conversation about:

Your symptoms
Your medical history
And the specific situations that trigger your dizziness or balance problems

Understanding your experience is essential for an accurate diagnosis.

Depending on your symptoms, your assessment may draw from our full battery of advanced tests, which includes:

Core Vestibular & Oculomotor Testing

Standard VNG (Videonystagmography): You will wear special goggles that record your eye movements as you follow visual targets and change head positions. These foundational tests assess eye movement control, central pathways, and the lateral semicircular canals. They help differentiate peripheral vs. central causes of dizziness and identify classic disorders such as BPPV, vestibular neuritis, and cerebellar dysfunction.

Advanced Vestibular Diagnostics

Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) 6-Canal Assessment: You will wear lightweight goggles equipped with high-speed cameras that track your eye movements as your head is gently and briefly moved in different directions. Unlike traditional VNG, which only evaluates the two lateral canals, vHIT measures all six semicircular canals independently. This allows us to detect subtle or isolated canal deficits that calorics cannot identify, improving diagnostic accuracy for vestibular neuritis, bilateral hypofunction, and chronic dizziness.
Advanced Dix-Hallpike with Torsional Analysis: High-resolution torsional tracking confirms true BPPV and helps distinguish it from migraine-related dizziness or central positional nystagmus. This is especially valuable for atypical, recurrent, or treatment-resistant cases.
Lateral Head Roll Test (for Horizontal Canal BPPV): A precise method for identifying loose crystals in the horizontal canals, often missed by standard positional testing. This ensures correct canal identification and proper treatment maneuvers.
Active Head Rotation (AHR): Evaluates the vestibular system at multiple frequencies, mirroring real-life head movements. This helps detect peripheral vestibular deficits that may not appear during slower tests like calorics.

Central & Cervical Vestibular Testing

Smooth Pursuit Neck Torsion & Cervical Gaze Testing: Differentiates dizziness caused by neck proprioceptive dysfunction (cervicogenic dizziness) from true vestibular disorders. Essential for patients with whiplash, neck pain, or post-concussion symptoms.
Ocular Counter-Roll (OCR): Testing
Assesses otolithic function, which is responsible for sensing gravity and tilt. This is especially helpful for patients who feel rocking, floating, or like they are on a boat without true spinning vertigo.
Saccadometry & Self-Paced Saccades: Measures higher-level eye movement control linked to frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and cerebellar function. Abnormalities can indicate central processing issues, cognitive impairment, or post-concussion dysfunction.

Electrophysiology Testing

cVEMP (Cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials): Measures the function of the saccule and inferior vestibular nerve, helping identify otolithic disorders and certain types of vestibular neuritis that standard VNG cannot detect. Adds diagnostic clarity for patients with imbalance, rocking sensations, or suspected inferior nerve involvement, guiding whether treatment should target otolith pathways rather than the semicircular canals.
oVEMP (Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials): Evaluates the utricle and superior vestibular nerve pathways, providing insight into disorders affecting gravitational perception and head-tilt sensitivity. Helps differentiate utricular dysfunction from canal-based disorders, improving accuracy in diagnosing chronic dizziness, persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD), and post-concussion imbalance.
Electrocochleography (ECoG): Measures electrical activity in the inner ear to detect Ménière's disease, endolymphatic hydrops, and other fluid-pressure abnormalities. Provides objective evidence of inner-ear fluid imbalance, helping triage patients toward medical management, dietary modification, or ENT referral when appropriate.

Functional Performance Testing

Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA): Determines how well the eyes stay focused during head movement. This test directly correlates with real-world symptoms like difficulty reading signs while walking or driving.
Gaze Stabilization Test (GST): Measures the speed at which the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) can keep vision stable. Helps guide vestibular rehabilitation by identifying the exact thresholds where symptoms begin.
Functional vHIT (fvHIT): A real-world version of vHIT that evaluates how the vestibular system performs during active, functional head movements. Excellent for athletes, workers, and patients returning to daily activities.

Why Some of Our Advanced Vestibular Tests Are Self-Pay

Our goal is to give you answers, not guesswork. These advanced tests allow us to pinpoint the exact source of your dizziness, often in a single visit.

Insurance typically covers only basic vestibular testing, which evaluates a limited portion of the balance system. But dizziness and imbalance often originate from areas that standard testing simply cannot reach, including other canals, the otolith organs, the neck, and central pathways.

Our advanced tests:

Provide far more precise diagnostic information
Identify problems that standard VNG misses
Reduce the need for multiple specialist visits
Prevent unnecessary imaging
Allow us to create a targeted, effective treatment plan immediately

Because these technologies are newer and more specialized, they do not yet have standard insurance billing codes. Rather than passing unexpected costs on to you, we offer them as transparent, affordable self-pay services so you can access the most accurate testing available without surprise costs.

Patients consistently tell us that the clarity and direction they gain from these tests are worth far more than the modest out-of-pocket fee, especially after months or years of searching for answers.

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Your Path to Treatment

At Northwest Speech and Hearing Center, we specialize in comprehensive vestibular assessments and diagnosis. We are experts at finding out what is causing your symptoms.

When your evaluation shows that vestibular rehabilitation therapy would be helpful, we work closely with trusted physical therapy specialists in our community who can provide the specialized exercises and treatment you need to improve your balance and manage your symptoms.