Vestibular and Balance Lab
Vestibular and Balance Lab
Dept. of Speech Pathology & Audiology
Covey College of Allied Health Professions
Dept. of Speech Pathology & Audiology
Covey College of Allied Health Professions
About the Vestibular and Balance Lab
The Vestibular and Balance (VaB) 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 Co-Director: Ashley G. Flagge, Au.D./Ph.D., CCC-A
Dr. Ashley Flagge is an Assistant Professor of Audiology at the University of South Alabama, and currently serves as the USA PhD Program Coordinator. Her primary research interests are in the areas of vestibular function, music/pitch perception, and pediatrics. 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.
Lab Co-Director: Elizabeth M. Adams, Ph.D., CCC-A, FAAA
Dr. Elizabeth Adams serves as Department Chair of the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at USA and as the Interim Director of Graduate Studies for the College of Allied Health Professions. Elizabeth’s current areas of academic and research interest are vestibular assessment and rehabilitation., assessment of hearing thresholds in the extended high frequency range, and cochlear implants and other implantable devices.
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. Elizabeth Adams and Ashley Flagge. 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.
Alexandria Greene, B.S.
Alexandria Greene 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 Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Mississippi in 2019. Her research interests are vestibular function and management, noise-induced hearing loss, and personality.
Major Eric Bunnell, AuD, CCC-A
Major Eric Bunnell is an active duty Army audiologist working toward his Ph.D. under the mentorship of Dr. Ashley Flagge. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Deaf Education in 2011 and his Doctor of Audiology in 2015 at Utah State University. His interests include vestibular assessment and rehabilitation, hearing conservation, and tinnitus.
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
Emily Gatewood
Frances "Lillie" Ange
Alyssa Sykes
Current and Ongoing Research
Greene, A. (In data collection). 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., Greene, A., & Hewitt, (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. (In data collection). A Preliminary Examination of Dual Task Cost to Posture during a Speech-in-Noise Listening Task.
Money-Nolan, L.E. (In data analysis). The Influence of Yoga Training on Functional and Physiological Measures of Balance.
Co-Advisors: Elizabeth M. Adams and Ashley G. Flagge
Bunnell, E. (In data analysis). Influence of the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) Training on Vestibular Reflex Function in ROTC Cadets.
Advisor: Ashley Flagge
Gatewood, E., Greene, A., Stanley, N. , & Flagge, A.G. (In data analysis). The Influence of Personality Traits on Body Vigilance and Balance in a Dual Task Paradigm.
Greene, A. (Preparing for submission). A Comparison of Auditory and Vestibular Function in Young Adult Musicians and Non-Musician Peers. 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.
Vestibular & Balance Function in Army Reserve Officers Training Corps Cadets and Healthy Non- to Lightly-Active Peers
PI Contact: Eric Bunnell
eb2226@jagmail.southalabama.edu
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
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!
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
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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