Assessment of migraine-related cochleovestibular symptoms

The objective was to assess the cochleovestibular symptoms in migraine. Therefore, a questionnaire form was prepared to record the data obtained from 20 migraineurs. All patients were assessed with audiometry, bithermal caloric testing and auditory brainstem response testing (ABR) between the migraine attacks, and 8 of them were also assessed during the attacks. Dizziness (30%) was the most common symptom that was followed by vertigo (25%) and tinnitus (20%). All patients had hearing within normal limits. Positional test (Hallpike maneuver) was positive in 2 (10%). Bithermal caloric testing revealed canal paresis in 3 (15%) patients. ABR results were normal in 13 patients. Seven patients (35%) had abnormal ABR results. Four of them (20%) had elongation in the absolute wave latencies (wave I, III and V) and normal IPLs of wave I-III, III-V and I-V. Three (15%) patients had elongation in the absolute wave latencies as well as in the IPLs of wave I-III, III-V and I-V. In conclusion, cochleovestibular symptoms can be seen in migraineurs. The test results between and during attacks are similar. The subjective cochleovestibular symptoms did not correlate with the objective tests performed (audiometry, ABR and caloric testing).