Normative data for rotational chair stratified by age.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Audiology

Background:

• The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) stabilizes gaze during head movements.
• Rotary chair (RC) testing is a standard method for assessing VOR function.
• Accurate normative data for VOR gain across all age groups is crucial for clinical diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the range of VOR gain using RC testing in individuals without vestibular or ear issues.
• To stratify VOR gain by age and gender to identify potential variations.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cross-sectional study involving 100 participants aged 6 to 78 years.
• VOR gains were measured at frequencies from 0.01 to 0.64 Hz during RC testing.
• Statistical analysis (PROC MIXED) was used to compare VOR gain across five age groups and by gender.

Main Results:

• The youngest age group (6-12 years) exhibited the highest average VOR gain.
• A significant inverse correlation was found between VOR gain and age (P < .05).
• The strongest age-related correlation was observed at the lowest frequency (0.01 Hz).

Conclusions:

• Age significantly impacts VOR gain, with notable differences in preadolescent and geriatric populations.
• Existing manufacturer-provided normative data for VOR gain may be inaccurate for these specific age groups.
• Further research with larger, diverse populations is needed to establish precise normative VOR gain values.