Assessment of Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) Using the "Bucket Test" and the Virtual SVV System

The purpose of this study was to describe the variability and test-retest reliability of a commercially available subjective visual vertical (SVV) system known as Virtual SVV (Interacoustics). In addition, the study aimed to compare the reliability of the Virtual system with a previously established bucket test of SVV.

Fifteen participants with normal hearing, normal middle ear function, and normal utricular function were included in the study. Each participant underwent static SVV testing using both the Virtual system and the bucket test. Subjects completed 2 testing sessions to determine test-retest reliability. For each test, data were collected with the head at 0°, tilted 45° to the right, and tilted 45° to the left.

This study was conducted in a balance function laboratory embedded in a large, tertiary care otology clinic.

The mean SVV values obtained with the Virtual system were within 1°-2° from 0 with the head positioned at 0°, which is in agreement with many other studies of SVV with the head at 0° (Akin & Murnane, 2009; Halmagyi & Curthoys, 1999; Zwergal, Rettinger, Frenzel, Dieterich, & Strupp, 2009). Using the intraclass correlation coefficient, test-retest reliability of the Virtual system was excellent in the 45° left position and fair to good in the 45° right and 0° position. Test-retest reliability of the bucket test was poor in all head positions.

The Virtual system is a more reliable measure of static SVV than the bucket test. Therefore, the Virtual system could be utilized as a screening device for utricular dysfunction in busy clinical settings.