Clinical Research Directory

The Effect of Otolith Dysfunction and Its Rehabilitation in Vestibular Diseases

This randomized controlled study compared the clinical and electrophysiological effectiveness of three vestibular rehabilitation approaches in patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular disease accompanied by otolith dysfunction: (1) traditional Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises (CCE), (2) two-dimensional (2D) otolith-targeted visual habituation, and (3) three-dimensional/virtual reality (3D/VR) otolith-targeted visual habituation. Forty-five patients aged 18-60 years were randomized into three groups and followed for 6 weeks. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) was used as the primary clinical outcome, and cervical and ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (cVEMP and oVEMP) were used as objective electrophysiological measures. Patients were monitored remotely using the Moodle learning management system.

Relationship Between Degree of Hypofunction and Vestibular Tests in Patients With Vestibular Hypofunction

Patients with complaints of dizziness and balance problems will be included in the study. Inclusion criteria for the study are; being between the ages of 12-85, having a diagnosis of peripheral vestibular hypofunction. Exclusion criteria from the study are; not being able to communicate, having a diagnosis of central vestibulopathy and having mental disorders. Demographic information form, vestibular tests, balance tests will be used in the evaluation. The demographic information form includes demographic information (name, surname, gender, smoking, alcohol use, etc.) and clinical conditions (past illnesses and/or surgeries, medications used, whether there is a history of falls, if any, frequency, whether they are afraid of heights and uncomfortable in the dark, etc.). The patients will be diagnosed with videonystagmography (VNG) after the decision of the ENT physician, and the degree of hypofunction will be recorded. Vestibular and balance tests will be applied to the patients in a clinical setting. At the end of the study, it will be examined whether there is a relationship between the degree of vestibular hypofunction and the vestibular tests applied in the clinic.