frequently asked questions

Lauren is licensed as a Direct Access Physical Therapy provider.  This means she can provide care for up to 30 calendar days without a prescription. Request for prescription will be assessed on an individual basis. 

Any licensed Medical (MD) or Osteopathic (DO) Physician, Nurse Practioner (CRNP) and Physician Assistant (PA) can write a prescription for PT services.    

This depends on why you are dizzy.  BPPV, for example, may resolve in one or two visits while a concussion may require more care.  Vestibular rehabilitation is a symptom driven treatment approach which means if you are symptom free and functioning at a 'back to normal' level, you no longer require skilled care.  

For some, it is possible to avoid activities that make you feel symptomatic.  Consider a person who breaks their right ankle so chooses to hop on their left leg, avoiding pain to the broken limb.  This avoidance strategy does not mean the injury is healed, we can all agree that the underlying problem still exists.  This is the case with avoiding actions that provoke dizziness.  Lauren can help you provoke your symptoms in a therapeutic context and controlled setting, so that rehabilitation and relief are possible.

This also depends on why you are dizzy.  If you have BPPV, the treatment requires  your therapist to move your head in various positions with respect to gravity.  If you have Vestibular neuritis, you will need to learn exercises that are designed to retrain your brain to neutralize stimulating sensory information.  If you have a concussion we need to design a treatment strategy that addresses what sub-type of concussion you have, meaning ocular-motor, headache/migraine, vestibular, anxiety/mood, or an associated condition like whiplash.  Years of training and experience suggest that a hybrid approach tailored to each client is most appropriate.

There is not one test to diagnose a concussion, but the Visio-Vestibular Examination (VVE) is an easy and effective tool to help distinguish concussed from non concussed kids and adolescents.  The VVE and the VOMS (Vestibular Ocular Motor Screen) are DizzyFree PT's preferred assessments.    

DizzyFree PT is self pay and will provide a receipt for your own submission to insurance with the exception of Medicare.  Any reimbursement would go directly to you. DizzyFree PT cannot see individuals who have Medicare insurance unless under the Wellness model. Entry to this program will be assessed at time of evaluation and is determined on an individual basis.  

If traveling more than 30 min in any given direction, DizzyFree PT will charge a travel fee of $60/hour while in car.  This is assessed in 15 minute intervals.  This depends on where client is located and is assessed on an individual basis.

DizzyFree PT performs home visits when necessary but can meet at an agreed upon location where DizzyFree PT has access to space for visits.  This would be assessed on an individual basis. 

DizzyFree PT attempts to accommodate every request and when asked will try to see you within 24 hours. For emergency and / or weekend visits, an additional $50 fee will be assessed.