Abstract
Background: Despite clinical practice utilizing the Dumas test (SVINT), some questions remain unanswered, including the age-related changes in frequency (FN) and slow-phase angular velocity (SPAV). This study aims to retrospectively evaluate their variations in subjects affected by unilateral peripheral vestibular loss (UPVL). Methods: We evaluated the selected samples based on the results of the SVINT, the results of the vestibular-evoked potentials (C-VEMP and O-VEMP), and the results of the head impulse test (HIT) and we compared the results against the age of the patients. We calculated the timing between the onset of UPVL and clinical evaluation in days. The presence or absence of VEMP indicated the UPVL severity. UPVL and BPPV patients with spontaneous or pseudo-spontaneous nystagmus were compared. Results: Statistical analysis showed changes in the FN and SPAV depending on age and the side of the application of the stimulus. We also observed that, in the UPVL, the severity of the disease modifies the SPAV, but not the frequency. Conclusions: The SVINT is a simple, reliable, and straightforward test that, if evaluated instrumentally, can show significant differences with aging. Further studies need to be performed to refine the clinical significance of the test and clarify its physiological background.
Highlights
The skull-vibration-induced nystagmus test (SVINT) in patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular loss (UPVL) is a quick test, which is simple to perform even in the pediatric field
head impulse test (HIT) was pathological in all cases, with saccadic induced in the movement toward the healthy side
The SVINT was positive in all patients with frequency on Ny (FN) between 0.19 and 3 Hz, and slow-phase angular velocity (SPAV) between 10.08 and 41.3◦ /s
Summary
The skull-vibration-induced nystagmus test (SVINT) in patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular loss (UPVL) is a quick test, which is simple to perform even in the pediatric field. The execution technique, standardized by Dumas in 2007 [2], consists of the application of a vibratory stimulus at 100 hertz at three points of the head—precisely, on the mastoids and at the vertex or zeta point—allowing observation of the evoked nystagmus, directed generally towards the healthy ear [3]. The SVINT can reveal the asymmetry of the canals and otolithic labyrinth receptors [9–11]. This is possible even in cases where compensation has developed, which can reduce or cancel other signs, such as the head-shaking test (HSN) [12]. This represents the alteration of the velocity storage system, induced by total or partial labyrinthine damage [13] greater than
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