V&BLab

Vestibular & Balance Lab

Dept. of Speech Pathology & Audiology

Covey College of Allied Health Professions

University of South Alabama

About the Vestibular & Balance Lab

The Vestibular and Balance (V&B) Lab aims to investigate the effects of vestibular and balance function for diagnostic and rehabilitative purposes. Current research is ongoing examining the effects of personality (including anxiety and stress) on balance function & perception, the impact of vestibular rehabilitation on vestibular migraine outcomes, the effects of physical training on vestibular and balance function, and dual task costs for balance and understanding speech in noise.

Key Personnel

Lab Director: Ashley G. Flagge, Au.D./Ph.D., CCC-A

Dr. Ashley Flagge is an Associate Professor of Audiology at the University of South Alabama, and currently serves as the USA PhD Program Coordinator, as well as a Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) ambassador. Her primary research interests are in the area of vestibular & balance, especially the effects of physical training and the anxiety/stress response on the vestibular/balance response. After working clinically for several years primarily in the areas of hearing and vestibular diagnostics, Dr. Flagge co-founded the Vestibular and Balance Research Lab at USA with Dr. Elizabeth Adams.

Laurel “Elise” Money-Nolan, B.S.

Elise Money-Nolan is a current dual-track Au.D./Ph.D. student under the co-mentorship of Drs. Ashley Flagge and Dr. Nicholas Stanley. She completed her undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of South Alabama in 2018. Her research interests are vestibular assessment and rehabilitation and auditory event-related potentials. She is completing a dissertation entitled The Dual-Task Interaction between Vestibular Function and Cognitive Processing Using the P300 Event-Related Potential. Following her anticipated graduation in December 2025, Elise will begin working in an academic position at LSU Health Sciences Center.

Frances "Lillie" Ange, B.S.

Lillie Ange is a current dual-track Au.D./Ph.D. student under the mentorship of Dr. Ashley Flagge. She completed her undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences at the University of South Alabama in 2022. Lillie’s area of research focuses on pediatric vestibular function and assessment in children with reading disorders. More broadly, her work explores the importance of early identification and intervention, the use of reading assessments, and the role of interprofessional collaboration in the identification, treatment, and management of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Recent Lab Graduates

Alexandria Greene, B.S.

Alexandria Greene is a recent dual-track program graduate of the Vestibular & Balance Lab. She completed her externship year at the American Institute of Balance in Largo, Florida. Her primary research areas examine the influence of personality on vestibular and balance function, and her dissertation was entitled The Influence of Personality Traits on Balance Perception and Vestibular Function in Young and Middle-Aged Adults. Congratulations Alex!

Major Eric Bunnell, AuD, CCC-A

Major Eric Bunnell is an active duty Army audiologist who just completed his PhD under the mentorship of Dr. Flagge. His primary research interests examine the relationship between physical training and vestibular & balance function. His dissertation was entitled A Comparison of Functional Movement and Balance Function Between Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadets, Yoga Practitioners, and Healthy Non-to-Lightly Active Peers. He now serves at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. Congratulations Eric!

Collaborators

Nicholas Stanley, Au.D./Ph.D., CCC-A

Sarah Redding, Au.D., CCC-A

Tara Andrews, DPT

Blaire Saale, DPT

William Hewitt, MD

Student Collaborators

Alyssa Sykes

Jaime Swenbeck

Current and Ongoing Research

Andrews, T., Redding, A., & Flagge, A. (In data collection). Characteristics, Assessment, & Treatment of BPPV in Patients with Chronic TBI in an Interprofessional Event Setting.

Money-Nolan, L.E. (In data collection). The Dual-Task Interaction Between Vestibular Function and Cognitive Processing Using the P300 Event-Related Potential.

Co-Advisors: Nicholas Stanley & Ashley Flagge

Greene, A. (Preparing manuscript). The Influence of Personality Traits on Balance Perception and Vestibular Function in Young and Middle Aged Adults.

Advisor: Ashley Flagge

Flagge, A., Andrews, T., Redding, S., Saale, B., Greene, A., & Hewitt, W. (In data collection). The Influence of Mindfulness Training as Part of a Vestibular Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Vestibular Migraine.

Flagge, A., Stanley, N., Money-Nolan, L.E., Greene, A., & Sykes, A. (Preparing manuscript). A Preliminary Examination of Dual Task Cost to Posture during a Speech-in-Noise Listening Task.

Money-Nolan, L.E. (Preparing manuscript). The Influence of Yoga Training on Functional and Physiological Measures of Balance.
Co-Advisors: Elizabeth M. Adams and Ashley Flagge

Bunnell, E. (Preparing manuscript). Influence of the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) Training on Vestibular Reflex Function in ROTC Cadets.
Advisor: Ashley Flagge

Greene, A. & Flagge, A. (Submitted for peer review). The role of anxiety in vestibular function and balance: A systematic review of literature.

Interested in Participating in Research?

See below for more information on becoming a research participant in our lab.

The Influence of Vestibular Rehabilitation on Measures of Balance & Mental Health in Patients with Vestibular Migraine

PI Contact: Ashley Flagge

aflagge@southalabama.edu

Dual-Task Cost to Posture During a Speech-in-Noise Listening Task

Contact: VaBLab@southalabama.edu

Recent Publications

Greene, A.W., Flagge, A.G., & Stanley, N.S. (2025). A Comparison of Vestibular Function in Young Adult musicians and Nonmusician Peers. American Journal of Audiology, 1-9. doi: 10.1044/2024_AJA-24-00203.

Money-Nolan, L.E. & Flagge, A. (2023). Factors Affecting Variability in Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Gain in the Video Head Impulse Testing in Individuals without Vestibulopathy: A Systematic Review of Literature. Frontiers in Neurology, 14. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1125951.

Greene, A., Flagge, A.G., & Stanley, N. (2023). Factors Affecting the Use of Vestibular/Balance Screening Measures Among Audiologists and Physical Therapists in Patients Reporting Dizziness. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 21(4).

Lab News!

5/25: Congratulations to Dr. Eric Bunnell and Dr. Alexandria Greene on their graduation!

2/25: Drs. Sarah Redding and Tara Andrews presented at the American Balance Society conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.

8/24: Congratulations to Major Eric Bunnell on successful completion of PhD comprehensive exams!

6/24: Ms. Alex Greene began her externship at the American Institute of Balance!

3/24: Congratulations to Dr. Ashley Flagge on receiving the 2024 Covey College of Allied Health Excellence in Research award.

12/23: Congratulations to Ms. Alex Greene on her successful completion of PhD comprehensive exams!

5/23: The VaBLab welcomes undergraduate rising senior Ms. Emily Gatewood as a summer undergraduate research fellow (SURF), who will be working in the lab through the summer.

2/23: Mrs. Elise Money-Nolan presented at the Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association (LSHA) Audiology Day CEU event.

11/22: Mrs. Elise Money-Nolan, Ms. Alex Greene, and Dr. Ashley Flagge presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Annual Convention in New Orleans, LA.

10/22: Mrs. Elise Money-Nolan was awarded the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation Student Research Grant in Audiology.

7/22: Ms. Alex Greene was awarded the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Audiology/Hearing Science Research Travel Award (ARTA)

1/22: Ms. Alex Greene was awarded the Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama (SHAA) Memorial Scholarship for Audiology graduate students

1/22: Dr. Adams, Dr. Flagge, and Ms. Alex Greene recently submitted a virtual presentation entitled, “Putting a Better Spin on Vestibular Screeners: Are They Really Useful in Clinical Practice?” to the Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama (2022) annual virtual conference.

12/21: Ms. Alex Greene was awarded the Tim Holston Audiology Scholarship by the USA Speech Pathology and Audiology department.

Recent & Upcoming Presentations

Money-Nolan, E., Stanley, N., Flagge, A., Greene, A., & Sykes, A. (2025). Dual Task Cost to Posture During a Speech-in-Noise Listening Task. Professional Poster Award Winner in Neuro-Audiology at the American Academy of Audiology, New Orleans, LA.

Redding, S., Andrews, T., Flagge, A., & Saale, B. (2025). Incorporating Mindfulness Within Vestibular Rehabilitation for Vestibular Migraine: A Case Study. Oral presentation at the American Balance Society conference, Scottsdale, AZ.

Redding, S., Andrews, T., Flagge, A., & Saale, B. (2025). Examining the Validity of BPPV Screening Tools in Community-Dwelling Individuals with Chronic TBI. Poster presentation at the American Balance Society conference, Scottsdale, AZ.

Flagge, A.G. & Greene, A. (2024). The Role of Anxiety and Stress in Vestibular/Balance Diagnosis & Management. Oral Presentation, Speech and Hearing Association of Alabama (SHAA).

Gatewood, E. Flagge, A., Stanley, N., & Greene, A. (2023). Do Personality Traits or Body Vigilance Influence Performance of Balance Tasks? Poster Presentation, University of South Alabama Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mobile, AL.

Flagge, A. (2023). Vestibular Dysfunction & Assessment in Pediatric Populations. Invited Oral Presentation, Alabama Academy of Audiology Annual Convention, Destin, FL .

Flagge, A. (2023). Is My Anxiety Making My Dizziness Worse? The Role of Anxiety & Stress in Vestibular/Balance Diagnosis & Management. Invited Oral Presentation, Mississippi Speech/Language and Hearing Association Conference, Jackson, MS.

Money-Nolan, L.E. (2023). The Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT): Variability of Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Gain in Individuals without Vestibulopathy. Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association (LSHA) Audiology Day CEU Event.

Money-Nolan, L.E. (2023). Clinical Use of Cortical Auditory Evoked Potentials (CAEPs): Recent Advances in the Literature. Louisiana Speech-Language-Hearing Association (LSHA) Audiology Day CEU Event.

Money-Nolan, L.E. (2022). The Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT): Variability of Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex Gain in Individuals without Vestibulopathy. American Speech-Language and Hearing Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Greene, A. (2022). Factors affecting the use of vestibular/balance screening measures among audiologists and physical therapists in patients reporting dizziness. American Speech-Language and Hearing Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Contact Us!

Vestibular and Balance lab
5721 USA Dr. North
HAHN 1119
Mobile, AL 36688
VaBLab@southalabama.edu

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