Video head-impulse test (vHIT) in dizzy children with normal caloric responses

The caloric test and the video head-impulse test are diagnostic tools to examine dizzy patients through assessing the function of the semicircular canals. There are major differences between the two tests as regards stimulus characteristics, methodology, and function examined. The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of vHIT in children and adolescents with normal caloric test.

This work was performed on 63 patients, but 14 were excluded because of technical problems in the caloric test. So, this is a prospective work in 49 patients (27 females and 22 males) with different types of vestibular disease seen because of vertigo in which both procedures were performed the same day. The caloric test was performed with air at two different temperatures in which both ears were irrigated alternately. Then, the video head-impulse test was carried out. Main outcome measures were the gain of vestibulo-ocular reflex, gain asymmetry, and refixation saccades in the vHIT.

in all studied cases, caloric test was normal. The mean age of patients was 16 years. By vHIT, in 8 patients (16%) no abnormality was detected, while abnormal findings were found in 41 patients. Single canal affection was seen in 29 patients whereas 12 patients had combined canal affection. The right side was affected in 27 and left side in 22 patients. In single canal affection, isolated horizontal canals were affected in 4, anterior canals in 5 and posterior canals in 20 patients. While in combined canal affection, the affection is seen in the same ear. Moreover the most common pattern seen is affection of left anterior and left posterior canals.

The caloric and vHIT is very important tests in diagnosis of dizzy patients. The information from both methods is redundant in some cases but complementary in most. vHIT is a "child friendly," relatively easy-to-use, and simple tool to evaluate each of the 6 semicircular canals.