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Testing of all Six Semicircular Canals with Video Head Impulse Test Systems
Published on: April 18, 2019
Stability of the aVOR to Repeat Head Impulse Testing
Michael C Schubert1, Americo A Migliaccio
1*Laboratory of Vestibular NeuroAdaptation, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery†Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.‡Balance and Vision Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney§University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
The angular vestibulo-ocular reflex (aVOR) gain is stable over time in healthy individuals and those with cochlear implants. This study confirms the reliability of aVOR testing for vestibular function assessment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Audiology
Background:
- The angular vestibulo-ocular reflex (aVOR) is crucial for stabilizing gaze during head movements.
- Traditional vestibular testing acknowledges influences like arousal and cognition on aVOR.
- The test-retest reliability of aVOR during head impulse testing (HIT) remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the inherent variability and reliability of the angular vestibulo-ocular reflex (aVOR) during active and passive head impulse testing.
- To determine the stability of aVOR gain over time in healthy subjects and individuals with cochlear implants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the scleral search coil method, the gold standard for precise head and eye rotation measurement.
- Conducted repeated head impulse testing (active and passive) on healthy controls across different sessions.
- Performed passive horizontal and vertical head impulse testing on individuals with cochlear implants.
Main Results:
- Healthy controls demonstrated consistent aVOR gain between ears, sessions, and active versus passive impulses.
- Individuals with cochlear implants exhibited stable aVOR gain over extended periods.
- Significant differences in aVOR gain were observed across semicircular canal planes in patients, with vertical canals showing lower gains than horizontal ones.
Conclusions:
- The angular vestibulo-ocular reflex (aVOR) gain demonstrates high stability when tested across separate days in both healthy individuals and patients with inner ear conditions.
- These findings support the reliability of head impulse testing for evaluating vestibular function, even with variations in testing conditions or patient populations.
