Vision preference in dynamic posturography analysed according to vestibular impairment and handicap

The objective of this work was to characterise the implications of vision preference derived from the sensory organisation test of computerised dynamic posturography, in terms of impairment, disability and handicap.

This was a prospective assessment of 88 patients suffering from dizziness who denied experiencing any visually induced vertiginous symptoms. The level of impairment of each patient was estimated by performing a complete analysis of vestibular function by means of the caloric and rotatory stimulation tests. Disability and handicap were determined with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnaire (DHI).

The results of the caloric test in patients were independent of vision preference although canal paresis was more frequently abnormal in patients without visual preference. No differences were found in the results of rotatory stimulation by means of impulse and sinusoidal tests, both at high velocities of stimuli, in between patients with and without vision preference. Similarly, the responses in the DHI, a common questionnaire for vestibular disability and handicap and, specifically to questions addressing the problem of visual and vestibular disability, were not able to differentiate either group of patients. Nevertheless, we have found that patients with vision preference tend to have poorer balance.

We consider that in the patients studied here, vision preference must be considered as a normal finding as this represents a normal strategy in a subject that relies more heavily on visual cues for his or her postural control.