Journal of Vestibular Research - Volume Pre-press, issue Pre-press

Authors: Hassannia, Fatemeh | Misale, Priyanka | Sulway, Shaleen | Olmos, Gabriela Vergara | Dabiri, Sasan | Ranalli, Paul | Rutka, John Alexander

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefit of vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) in the management of patients with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia with bilateral vestibulopathy (iCABV). BACKGROUND: iCABV is a hindbrain degenerative disorder with impairment of both central and peripheral vestibular pathways. There is combined failure of four compensatory eye movement systems including the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), optokinetic reflex, smooth pursuit and the visually enhanced vestibulo-ocular reflex (VVOR). Phenotypic presentation includes postural and gait instability, oscillopsia and dizziness with active head movement. The benefit of VRT in iCABV patients has not been established. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed …on a cohort of twelve patients diagnosed with iCABV in a multidisciplinary neuro-otology clinic. All participated in VRT and completed their suggested course of VRT. The following clinical measures were assessed before starting and after finishing VRT: 1) Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), 2) Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, 3) Catastrophization scale, 4) Positive Affective Negative Affective Score (PANAS), 5) Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) and 6) Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction in Balance (mCTSIB). The number of falls historically was recorded in addition to gait speed (ft./sec). RESULTS: Following VRT, patients were found to have improved balance on mCTSIB (condition 4 : 7 vs 18 seconds, P  = 0.04) and a better postural stability with a reduced number of falls (p  = 0.01). No statistically significant improvement was seen in the DHI, ABC, Catastrophization scale, DGI, PANAS and gait speed (p  >  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: iCABV patients who underwent VRT were found to have a better postural stability and reduced risk of falls. VRT was not found to significantly improve patients’ overall subjective perception of their symptoms or their psychological status. Show more

DOI: 10.3233/VES-210058

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-7, 2022

Authors: Frank, Amanda J. | Hoppes, Carrie W. | Dunlap, Pamela M. | Costa, Claudia | Whitney, Susan L.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Visual Vertigo Analogue Scale (VVAS) assesses visual vertigo. Instead of the original scoring methods (positive VVAS >  1), we propose categorizing patients as having No (0), Mild (0.1–40), Moderate (40.01–70), or Severe (70.01–100) symptoms. OBJECTIVE: Our primary aim was to validate an alternative interpretation of the VVAS by exploring the relationship between categories of visual vertigo symptoms and measures of activity participation, dizziness handicap, anxiety, and depression. We aimed to describe the severity of visual vertigo reported by patients in different vestibular diagnostic categories. METHODS: People with vestibular disorders (n  = 250) completed the VVAS, Vestibular …Activities and Participation (VAP) Measure, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: Patients with central disorders were more symptomatic than those with peripheral vestibular disorders. As evaluated by one-way ANOVA, the scores on the VAP, HADS, and DHI significantly differed among mild, moderate, severe, and no visual vertigo categories (p  <  0.001). As VVAS severity increased, activity participation decreased (r  = 0.582, p  <  0.001); dizziness handicap increased (r  = 0.597, p  <  0.001, n  = 199); anxiety increased (r  = 0.405, p  <  0.001); and depression increased (r  = 0.521, p  <  0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study support the use of an alternative VVAS interpretation method of categorizing symptoms as none, mild, moderate, and severe visual vertigo. Show more

Keywords: Vestibular, visual vertigo, assessment, classification, dizziness, vertigo, rehabilitation, physical therapy

DOI: 10.3233/VES-210131

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-9, 2022

Authors: Vereeck, Luc | Dunlap, Pamela M. | Vanspauwen, Robby | Hendriks, Erwin | Whitney, Susan L.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Avoidance of activities that trigger dizziness in persons with vestibular disorders may inhibit dynamic vestibular compensation mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability of the Vestibular Activities Avoidance Instrument (VAAI) 81 and 9 item tool and to compare the VAAI scores in Dutch-speaking healthy adults and in patients with vestibular disorders. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted including 151 healthy participants and 106 participants with dizziness. All participants completed the 81-item VAAI. Within 7 days, the VAAI was completed a second time by 102 healthy adults and 43 persons with dizziness. RESULTS: The …average 81-item VAAI scores [54.8(47.1) vs. 228.1(78.3)] and 9-item VAAI scores [2.4(5.9) vs. 28.1(12)] were significantly different between healthy adults and participants with dizziness (p  <  0.001). In participants with dizziness the ICC for the 81-item VAAI was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.97) and for the 9-item VAAI was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85, 0.95). Cronbach’s alpha for the 81-item VAAI was 0.97 and 0.85 for the 9-item VAAI. The minimal detectable change was 47.8 for the 81-item VAAI and 8.9 for the 9-item VAAI. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with dizziness have a greater tendency to avoid movements. Both test-retest reliability and internal consistency of the Dutch version of the VAAI were excellent. Show more

Keywords: Dizziness, vertigo, fear avoidance

DOI: 10.3233/VES-210108

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-9, 2022

Authors: Cleworth, Taylor W. | Kessler, Paul | Honegger, Flurin | Carpenter, Mark G. | Allum, John H.J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIMS: An acute unilateral peripheral vestibular deficit (aUPVD) due to vestibular neuritis causes deficient yaw axis vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) gains. Using video head impulse tests (vHITs), we examined phasic and tonic velocity gains of the VOR over time to determine if these differed at onset and during subsequent improvement. METHODS: The VOR responses of 61 patients were examined within 5 days of aUPVD onset, and 3 and 7 weeks later using vHIT with mean peak yaw angular velocities of 177°/s (sd 45°/s) and mean peak accelerations of 3660°/s2 (sd 1300°/s2 ). The phasic velocity …or acceleration gain (aG) was computed as the ratio of eye to head velocity around peak head acceleration, and the tonic velocity gain (vG) was calculated as the same ratio around peak head velocity. RESULTS: aG increased ipsi-deficit from 0.45 at onset to 0.67 at 3 weeks and 7 weeks later, and vG increased ipsi-deficit from 0.29 to 0.51 and 0.53, respectively, yielding a significant time effect (p  <  0.001 ). Deficit side aG was significantly greater (p  <  0.001 ) than vG at all time points. Deficit side gain improvements in aG and vG were similar. Contra-deficit aG increased from 0.86 to 0.95 and 0.94 at 3 weeks and 7 weeks, and vG contra-deficit increased from 0.84, to 0.89 and 0.87, respectively, also yielding a significant time effect (p  = 0.004 ). Contra-deficit aG and vG were normal at 3 weeks. Mean canal paresis values improved from 91% to 67% over the 7 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Acceleration and velocity VOR gains on the deficit side are reduced by aUPVD and improve most in the first 3 weeks after aUPVD onset. Deficit side aG is consistently higher than deficit side vG following an aUPVD, suggesting that acceleration rather than velocity sensitive compensatory neural mechanisms are predominant during the compensation process for aUPVD. Show more

Keywords: Vestibular loss, vestibular neuritis, head impulse test, vestibular ocular reflex, neural compensation

DOI: 10.3233/VES-210153

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-11, 2022

Authors: Chae, Ricky | Krauter, Roseanne | Pasquesi, Lauren L. | Sharon, Jeffrey D.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Current Bárány Society criteria for vestibular migraine (VM) include only episodic symptoms. Anecdotal observations suggest that some patients have episodic forms and others have chronic forms of VM, with interplay and evolution of both subtypes over time. OBJECTIVE: To better understand VM subtypes and evaluate a more inclusive diagnostic schema. METHODS: Four VM groups were studied: definite episodic (dVM), probable episodic (pVM), definite chronic (dCVM), and probable chronic (pCVM). Chronic VM was defined as having more than 15 dizzy days per month. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed, along with Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and …Vestibular Migraine Patient Assessment Tool and Handicap Inventory (VM-PATHI) scores. RESULTS: 54 adults with a mean age of 47.0 years (SD 13.7) were enrolled. 10 met criteria for dVM, 11 pVM, 22 dCVM, and 11 pCVM. Overall, there were strong similarities in clinical characteristics between dVM, pVM, dCVM, and pCVM. Compared to subjects with episodic VM, those with chronic VM had a higher average number of VM triggers (8.7 vs. 6.4, P  = 0.019), including motion (93.9% vs. 66.7%, P  = 0.009), scrolling on a screen (78.8% vs. 47.6%, P  = 0.018), skipped meal (57.6% vs. 23.8%, P  = 0.015), and air travel (57.6% vs. 23.8%, P  = 0.015). They also had higher symptom severity (DHI = 53.3, P  = 0.194) and burden of disease (VM-PATHI = 48.2, P  = 0.030) scores. CONCLUSIONS: Many patients do not meet current Bárány Society criteria for VM based on their duration of vestibular symptoms. Yet, these patients with chronic VM endorse several indistinguishable symptoms from those who do meet criteria. A more inclusive diagnostic schema should be adopted where patients with vestibular symptoms shorter than 5 minutes or longer than 72 hours are also recognized as having VM. Show more

Keywords: Barany society, chronic, dizziness, vertigo, vestibular migraine

DOI: 10.3233/VES-210117

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-11, 2022

Authors: Soriano-Reixach, Maria Montserrat | Rey-Martínez, Jorge | Altuna, Xabier | Perez-Fernandez, Nicolas

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Main objectives for this study were to develop a quantification method to obtain a Perez-Rey (PR) score adapted to the VVOR test and to evaluate the correlation of the PR score obtained with quantified VVOR with the PR score of the vHIT test. METHODS: A new PR score calculation method for quantified VVOR test was developed using the MATLAB computational software based on saccadic response time latency variability between each head oscillation cycle of the VVOR test. Retrospective correlation between PR scores in VVOR and vHIT tests, performed in the same vHIT testing session for patients with …vestibular neuritis and vestibular neurectomy, was performed to correlate new PR (VVOR) score with the classic PR (vHIT) score. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included: 11 post-neurectomy and 19 subacute vestibular neuritis. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (R2 ) for the overall sample was 0.92 (p  <  0.001) and 95% confidence interval was 0.85 –0.96. In the linear mixed-effects statistical model developed, only PRVHIT and PRVVOR scores showed statistical association in Wald X2 test (p  = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The new developed PR score for synchronization measurement of saccadic responses in VVOR testing is a valid method that outputs synchronization values and highly correlates with PR score in vHIT test. Show more

Keywords: VVOR, vHIT, VOR, gain, PR score, saccade

DOI: 10.3233/VES-210127

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-9, 2022

Authors: Babaee, Samar | Shaabani, Moslem | Vahedi, Mohsen

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) is believed to be one of the most valuable tools for studying the vestibular system. In our opinion, its combined effect on posture and perception needs to be examined more. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of a 20 Hz sinusoidal Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (sGVS) on the body sway and subjective visual vertical (SVV) deviation through two sets of electrode montages (bipolar binaural and double temple-mastoidal stimulation) during a three-stage experiment (baseline, threshold, and supra-threshold levels). METHODS: While the individuals (32 normal individuals, 10 males, the mean …age of 25.37±3.00 years) were standing on a posturography device and SVV goggles were put on, the parameters of the body sway and SVV deviation were measured simultaneously. Following the baseline stage (measuring without stimulation), the parameters were investigated during the threshold and supra-threshold stages (1 mA above the threshold) for 20 seconds. This was done separately for each electrode montage. Then, the results were compared between the three experimental stages and the two electrode montages. RESULTS: In both electrode montages, “the maximum amplitude” of the mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) body sway decreased and increased in the threshold and supra-threshold stages, respectively, compared to the baseline stage. Comparison of the amount of  “amplitude change” caused by each electrode montages showed that the double temple-mastoidal stimulation induced a significantly greater amplitude change in body sway during both threshold and supra-threshold stages (relative to the baseline stage). The absolute mean values of the SVV deviation were significantly different between the baseline and supra-threshold levels in both electrode montages. The SVV deviation in double temple-mastoidal stimulation was a bit greater than that in the bipolar binaural stimulation. CONCLUSION: Double temple-mastoidal stimulation has induced greater amount of change in the body sway and SVV deviation. This may be due to the more effective stimulation of the otoliths than semicircular canals. Show more

Keywords: Galvanic vestibular stimulation, subjective visual vertical, postural sway, otolith

DOI: 10.3233/VES-210112

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-15, 2021

Authors: Sui Lin, Carren Teh | Prepageran, Narayanan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic functional disorder which interferes with the way individuals experience their personal, social and work life. OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of disease duration in PPPD on the quality of life (QOL), dizziness handicap and mental health on the patients. METHODS: A prospective study comparing the EQ-5D for QOL, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and DASS-21 between 27 patients with PPPD and 27 of those who have recovered from an acute vestibular event. Similar parameters between PPPD patients with symptoms less than one year and more than a …year were compared. RESULTS: The PPPD patients were predominantly females and middle-aged with significantly higher DHI scores (mean 48.3 + 25.7, p  = 0.00002), higher total mean scores in the DASS-21 (mean 21.6 + 13.7, p  = 0.009) and poorer QOL with mean EQ-5D VAS of 67.9 + 17.3 (p  <  0.00001). PPPD patients with symptoms for more than a year had significant increase in physical handicap (p  = 0.041) as well as anxiety levels (p  = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: PPPD is predominantly seen in females and middle-aged which significantly reduces the QOL, increases dizziness handicap and increases depression, anxiety and stress levels. The increase in duration of illness further increases the anxiety levels and physical handicap. Show more

Keywords: Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness, dizziness handicap, quality of life, depression, anxiety

DOI: 10.3233/VES-210087

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-8, 2021

Authors: Houben, Mark M.J. | Meskers, Arjan J.H. | Groen, Eric L.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The vestibular Coriolis illusion is a disorienting sensation that results from a transient head rotation about one axis during sustained body rotation about another axis. Although often used in spatial disorientation training for pilots and laboratory studies on motion sickness, little is known about the minimum required rotation rate to produce the illusion. OBJECTIVE: This study determined the perception threshold associated with the Coriolis illusion. METHODS: Nineteen participants performed a standardized pitching head movement during continuous whole-body yaw rotation at rates varying between 5 to 50 deg/s. The participants reported their motion sensation in relation …to three hypothesized perception thresholds: 1) any sense of motion, 2) a sense of rotation, and 3) a sense of rotation and its direction (i.e., the factual Coriolis illusion). The corresponding thresholds were estimated from curves fitted by a generalized linear model. RESULTS: On average threshold 1 was significantly lower (8 deg/s) than thresholds 2 and 3. The latter thresholds did not differ from each other and their pooled value was 10 deg/s. CONCLUSIONS: The Coriolis illusion is perceived at yaw rates exceeding 10 deg/s using a pitching head movement with 40 deg amplitude and 55 deg/s peak velocity. Model analysis shows that this corresponds to an internal rotation vector of 6 deg/s. With this vector the Coriolis perception threshold can be predicted for any other head movement. Show more

Keywords: Spatial disorientation, perception modeling, pilot training

DOI: 10.3233/VES-210073

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-8, 2021

Authors: Millar, Jennifer L. | Schubert, Michael C.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Patients with cerebellar ataxia report oscillopsia, “bouncy vision” during activity, yet little is known how this impacts daily function. The purpose of this study was to quantify the magnitude of oscillopsia and investigate its relation to vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) function and daily activity in cerebellar ataxia. METHODS: 19 patients diagnosed with cerebellar ataxia and reports of oscillopsia with activity were examined using the video head impulse test (vHIT), Oscillopsia Functional Index (OFI), and clinical gait measures. Video head impulse data was compared against 40 healthy controls. RESULTS: OFI scores in ataxia patients …were severe and inversely correlated with gait velocity (r  = –0.55, p  <  0.05), but did not correlate with VOR gains. The mean VOR gain in the ataxic patients was significantly reduced and more varied compared with healthy controls. All patients had abnormal VOR gains and eye/head movement patterns in at least one semicircular canal during VHIT with passive head rotation. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cerebellar ataxia and oscillopsia have impaired VOR gains, yet severity of oscillopsia and VOR gains are not correlated. Patients with cerebellar ataxia have abnormal oculomotor behavior during passive head rotation that is correlated with gait velocity, but not magnitude of oscillopsia. Show more

Keywords: Oscillopsia, cerebellar ataxia, vestibular ocular reflex, gaze stability, gait

DOI: 10.3233/VES-210106

Citation: Journal of Vestibular Research, vol. Pre-press, no. Pre-press, pp. 1-9, 2021