[The Dizziness Handicap Inventory for quality control in the treatment of vestibular dysfunction]

Treatment of vestibular dysfunction remains a challenge for many otolaryngologists. This is true not only for establishing the differential neurotologic diagnosis, but also for treatment and treatment monitoring in vestibular dysfunction patients. Particularly quality control of therapeutic measures is generally poorly documented. The validated German version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) represents a viable option for evaluation and monitoring of treatment outcomes. In this study, patients who were treated at the Otorhinolaryngology Department of the University Hospital Aachen because of unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders were asked to complete the DHI before and after treatment. Posttherapeutic DHI scores were collected by telephone. Evaluation of the DHI scores underlined the significant benefit of treatment in 92%. Furthermore, the DHI prove to be useful for documentation of patients' disorders and treatment and thus for quality assurance.