A New and Faster Test to Assess Vestibular Perception.

Bart Dupuits,Jean Philippe Guyot,Nils Guinand,Maksim Pleshkov,Angelica Pérez Fornos,Florence Lucieer,Raymond Van De Berg,Herman Kingma

doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00707

Abstract

Objective: Clinical vestibular testing mainly consists of testing reflexes, but does not routinely include testing for perceptual symptoms. The objective of this study was to investigate a new and faster test for vestibular perception, and to compare its results with previous studies.Methods: Fifty-five healthy subjects with no prior vestibular complaints were included and divided into three age groups. Vestibular perceptual thresholds were measured using a hydraulic platform in the dark. The platform delivered 12 different movements: six translations (forward, backward, right, left, up, and down) and six rotations/tilt (yaw left, yaw right, pitch forward, pitch backward, roll left, and roll right). The subject had to report the correct type and direction of movements. Thresholds were determined by a double confirmation of the lowest threshold. General trends in thresholds like relative interrelationship and the influence of age were analyzed and compared with values reported previously.Results: Mean thresholds of age groups ranged between 0.092 and 0.221 m/s2 for translations, and between 0.188 and 2.255°/s2 for rotations. The absolute values differed from previous reports, but the relative interrelationship of thresholds between type and direction of motion remained. An association between age and vestibular thresholds was found, similar to previous reports.Conclusion: This new and faster test for vestibular perception showed comparable patterns in perceptual thresholds when compared to more research oriented, lengthy tests. This might pave the way for establishing vestibular perception testing protocols useful for the clinic.

Highlights

IntroductionThe vestibular organ consists of three semicircular canals (lateral, anterior, and posterior) and two otolith organs (saccule and utricle)
The vestibular organ consists of three semicircular canals and two otolith organs
Current diagnostics for the vestibular system mainly rely on the evaluation of reflexes, such as the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and the vestibulo-collic reflex

Summary

Introduction

The vestibular organ consists of three semicircular canals (lateral, anterior, and posterior) and two otolith organs (saccule and utricle). Three major vestibular functions are gaze stabilization, spatial orientation, and balance. These essential functions rely on the contribution of other multiple senses, such as the visual and somatosensory system [1]. One third of patients with dizziness or imbalance have normal vestibular results on these tests [4]. The clinical value of tests for vestibular perception is not yet fully determined. They might develop into the equivalent of the “speech audiogram” for vestibular disorders [3, 6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion