Event. Mastering Rotational Chair Testing

Welcome to this Interacoustics Academy Learning Path, on Rotational Chair Assessments. This course is designed to provide you with the theoretical and practical understanding of how to perform the most commonly used Rotational Chair Assessments in clinical practice.

During this learning path, we will investigate the role of the rotational chair within the vestibular diagnostic process, focusing on the fundamentals of testing adults, and will also explore the alterations and adjustments required to test the pediatric population in the rotational chair.

Learning objectives

• Explain the clinical role of rotational chair testing
• Identify appropriate patient populations
• How to perform and interpret SHA, Step, and VOR suppression tests
• Adaptation and considerations for pediatric assessment protocols
• Integration of rotational chair test findings into clinical decision-making

Course faculty

Darren M Whelan

Darren M Whelan is a British Audiologist with an undergraduate degree in audiology and postgraduate master’s degrees in health science, neurophysiology, and clinical research. His resumé includes several clinical positions in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. Darren held positions as a clinical lead in audiology and a research scientist role in the UK and managed a portfolio of NIHR adopted clinical research studies. His clinical work includes investigating patients with suspected auditory and vestibular pathology, balance impairments, and vestibular rehabilitation. He is frequently a guest speaker at national and international congresses, enjoys teaching and providing clinical insights on the management of patients with dizziness and is a contributing author on published audiological and vestibular articles. Darren has also been an adjunct professor at Salus University in the USA, lecturing on the Doctor of Audiology degree.

Dr Chris Zalewski

Dr Zalewski earned a BA from Pennsylvania State University, an MA in Audiology from the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. in Audiology at Gallaudet University. Since 2002 he has been a research audiologist at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the NIH. His principal interests are vestibular disorders and the genetics of hearing loss.

Leigh Martin

Leigh Martin is a British Audiologist and adjunct lecturer at the University of Cork, Ireland. Clinically, he has worked in the National Health Service specializing in paediatric audiology as well as vestibular diagnostics and rehabilitation. Leigh has also sat on the board of directors for the British Academy of Audiology. Since 2013, Leigh has supported the growth and development of the Interacoustics Academy and holds the position of Director of the Academy. Leigh has presented at numerous scientific conferences and meetings across a diverse range of audiological topics as well as having published papers in both video head impulse testing (vHIT) and wideband tympanometry.

Elizabeth Fuemmeler AuD

Dr. Liz Fuemmeler is the Balance Clinical Product Manager with Interacoustics and Vestibular Program Director at Professional Hearing Center in Kansas City, MO. She graduated with her Doctorate of Audiology in 2019 from Purdue University and received specialty training in vestibular and balance disorders at Boys Town National Research Hospital and the Mayo Clinic. She is actively involved in vestibular and concussion research and regularly lectures for local, national, and international conferences. Outside of her role with Interacoustics, she co-hosts a monthly podcast called "A Dose of Dizzy'' that reviews current vestibular protocols and research. She also is the past-president of the Missouri Academy of Audiology and volunteers with the American Academy of Audiology.