Vestibular rehabilitation contribution to improvement of health-related quality of life in vestibular neuronitis

Abstract

Objective. Our study aims to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and reveal the actual benefit of vestibular rehabilitation (VR) in patients with vestibular neuronitis. Material and methods. Twenty four patients diagnosed with vestibular neuronitis in the Institute of Phono-Audiology and Functional ENT Surgery and Otomed Medical Center Bucharest were assigned to 2 groups who underwent 1 month of VR in the aforementioned settings. Group 1 included patients who started VR within first month of disease and group 2 comprised patients who began VR after more than a month from the onset of symptoms. Group 2 served as control group because they began VR after group 1 had already finished one month of VR. HRQoL was assessed before and after VR, using Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC), disability scale and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results. Both groups achieved statistically significant improvements in almost all questionnaires after VR (p <0.05). When group 1 scores after one month of VR were compared to control group results before VR, we found statistically significant differences in DHI-Physical, disability scale and VAS (p < 0.05). After one month of VR, 13 patients became symptom free, while 11 patients still had bothering symptoms and continued VR. The latter category revealed significantly higher DHI scores and levels of intensity of symptoms on VAS during first examination (p < 0.05). Conclusions. VR improves HRQoL after vestibular neuronitis and reduces self-perceived disability and intensity of symptoms during usual activities. Higher DHI and VAS scores at first evaluation may predict a longer VR period needed. The clinical and emotional benefit of VR overweight it’s costs and recommend it as a valuable method in the management of vestibular neuronitis.