Development of Nystagmus Test and Measurement for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Abstract

Vertigo is the illusion of rotation occuring due to a problem or a set of problems in the balance system of the body, and it is the situation that objects or places around the patients are in a revolving position around themselves. In vertigo, which is examined under two main headings as central and peripheral, central vertigo can be caused by aneurysms, tumors, and brain vascular distruption caused by brain lesions, while peripheral vertigo can occur due to thyroid types and metabolic disorders. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, colloquially called ‘crystal floating’, is the most common type of peripheral vertigo and many diagnostic, exercise and treatment methods are used in case of BPPV. However, today, as a result of the increase in computer use, treatment interactions have increased significantly. In line with the software created in this study, a computer-based diagnosis system and measurement system of nystagmus movements due to BPPV were developed. The system consists of three parts: mechanical, software and hardware. Visual Studio c# software interface and connection control software were formed in accordance with the diagnostic methods obtained from the literature. Software panels prepared on the interface for bithermal caloric and other tests are opened and the electronystagmography data prepared accordingly are graphed on Digilent Waveforms Analog Discovery. The performance of the BPPV test and measurement system were applied to the control group consisting of 10 healthy individuals. Dix-Hallpike, gaze, head rotation, optokinetic, pursuit tracking, bithermal caloric, Head Shaking and Saccadic tests were applied. As a result, the time for the preparation of the bithermal caloric test to 30-degree temperature value of the 3900 ml and 2600 ml was calculated as 4.00 ∓ 1.8 s and 3.67 ∓ 2.8 s. For 44-degree temperature value, they were -1,70 ∓ 2,75 s and -0,70 ∓ 3,09 s. Thus, it is seen that the developed system will enable the diagnosis of patients with BPPV to be determined in accordance with integrated visual stimuli in an accurate and ergonomic environment.