Kristal M. Riska, PhD, AuD, CCC-A
Audiologist
My Locations
About Me
As an audiologist, I enjoy working with patients on a daily basis and see firsthand the impact that vestibular (inner ear balance) problems and hearing loss can have on an individual and his/her family. I specialize in assessing whether a patient's dizziness and balance problems are related to the inner ear. My goal is to provide compassionate care to each of my patients. In addition to laboratory testing, I strive to provide information and education that is useful for them to understand the underlying function of the ear and how it contributes to their symptoms.
- Associate Professor of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Communication Sciences 2025
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
- Vestibular Assessment
- Dizziness
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
- Rotary Chair Testing
Ratings and Reviews
The ratings and reviews are based on patient responses to the overall provider rating question from the survey. The question reads: “Using any number from 0 to 10, where 0 is the worst provider possible and 10 is the best provider possible, what number would you use to rate this provider?” Responses are converted to a 5-point rating system and applied consistently to all providers. Learn more about our survey process. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.
Training and Education
Clinical Focus and Research
My research interests are broadly focused on improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with dizziness related to vestibular disorders. Specifically, my research focuses on developing and implementing cost-effective screenings, validating streamlined assessments in specialty care settings, and developing novel care pathways for dizziness. Each of these areas focuses on optimizing identification in an effort to direct patients to appropriate rehabilitation and treatment.
- Otolaryngology Surgeon- Scientist career Path (OSSP) program awarded by National Institutes of Health 2022 - 2027
- Akin, Faith W., Alicia A. Swan, Andrea Kalvesmaki, Courtney D. Hall, Kristal M. Riska, Kara D. Stressman, Huong Nguyen, Megan Amuan, and Mary Jo Pugh. “Factors That Impact the Long-Term Outcome of Postconcussive Dizziness Among Post-9/11 Veterans.” Am J Audiol 32, no. 3S (November 2023): 706–20. https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJA-22-00150.
- Del Risco, Amanda, Alex Cherches, Sherri L. Smith, and Kristal M. Riska. “Guideline Adherence to Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Treatment and Management in Primary Care.” Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 169, no. 4 (October 2023): 865–74. https://doi.org/10.1002/ohn.315.
- Huang, Ryan J., Amanda Del Risco, Kristal M. Riska, Matthew W. Cooper, Nicholas W. Clark, Samantha J. Kaplan, David Kaylie, and Howard W. Francis. “Prognosis of Acute Low-Tone Hearing Loss Without Vertigo: A Scoping Review.” Laryngoscope 133, no. 10 (October 2023): 2457–69. https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.30630.
- Riska, K. M., and O. D. Murnane. “The Video Head Impulse Test.” In Dizziness and Vertigo Across the Lifespan, 105–17, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-55136-6.00008-3.
- Riska, K. M., and O. D. Murnane. “The Video Head Impulse Test.” In Dizziness and Vertigo Across the Lifespan, 105–17, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-55136-6.00008-3.
- Pavon, J. M., K. Riska, S. Smith, C. Roberson, B. Smith, S. Wong, L. Previll, M. Little, H. White, and C. Colon-Emeric. “High prevalence of falls-related medication use in high-risk older adults with hearing impairment.” In JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, 70:S215–S215, 2020.
Insurance Accepted
Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.
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Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
- Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
- Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
- Aetna Open Choice PPO
- Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
- Aetna Select HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice
- Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
- Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
- Aetna/CVS Health
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Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- NC State Employees Health Plan
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.
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Cigna
- Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
- Cigna Choice Plus
- Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
- Cigna Open Access
- Cigna Open Access Plus
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*Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.
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Duke Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
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Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
- Gateway Health Alliance
- Healthgram
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Humana
- Humana Choice (PPO)
- Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
- MedCost
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Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
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NC Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
- Carolina Complete Health
- Healthy Blue
- NC Medicaid Direct
- WellCare of North Carolina
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TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
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United Healthcare
- AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
- AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
- AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
- All Savers Alternate Funding
- All Savers Fully Insured
- United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)**
- United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
- United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
- United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
- United Healthcare Option PPO
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
- United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
- United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
- United Medical Resources (UMR)
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.
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**Duke Health does not participate in UHC plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.
External Relationships
- American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA)
- Invited Speaker for Population Hearing Healthcare meeting
- Otolith Labs