A review on screening tests for vestibular disorders.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Otolaryngology
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• The vestibular system is crucial for balance and spatial orientation.
• Current vestibular screening tools lack consistent validation and reliability for widespread clinical adoption.
• Many existing tests focus on the vestibulo-ocular reflex or balance correlates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review the literature on various vestibular screening tests.
• To evaluate the clinical utility and epidemiological applicability of selected vestibular assessments.
• To identify gaps in evidence for a comprehensive vestibular screening battery.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies evaluating vestibular tests.
• Analysis of tests assessing vestibulo-ocular reflex (e.g., Dix-Hallpike, Head Impulse Test).
• Evaluation of tests assessing spatial orientation and balance (e.g., Bucket Test, Fukuda Stepping Test, mCTSIB).

Main Results:

• No single, universally accepted, evidence-based vestibular screening battery currently exists.
• Several tests show promise but require further validation for clinical and epidemiological use.
• The reviewed tests vary in their ability to capture different vestibular functions.

Conclusions:

• A validated and reliable vestibular screening battery for clinical practice remains elusive.
• Further research is needed to establish standardized, evidence-based protocols for vestibular assessment.
• Improved screening tools are essential for diagnosing vestibular disorders and conducting epidemiological studies.