Agreement between Functional and Electrophysiologic Measures in Patients with Unilateral Peripheral Vestibular System Impairment

Abstract

This investigation was conducted to determine whether there was congruence between "physiology-based" definitions of compensated and uncompensated unilateral peripheral vestibular system impairment and "functional" measures of self-perceived dizziness disability/handicap. A retrospective analysis was performed on data obtained from 122 patients evaluated in the Balance Function Laboratory at Henry Ford Hospital over a 4-year period. Both electronystagmography and rotational test data were tabulated. Additionally, results of a self-report measure of dizziness disability/handicap were tabulated. Patients were placed into four groups, with one group representing normal vestibulometric test results, one group representing compensated unilateral peripheral vestibular system impairment, and two groups representing increasing magnitudes of uncompensated unilateral peripheral vestibular system impairment. The total and subscale scores on the self-report measure served as the dependent variable. Results showed a lack of congruence between the physiologic and functional measures. We interpret these findings as evidence that factors other than semiobjective evidence of vestibular system compensation probably impact functional recovery following unilateral peripheral vestibular system impairment.