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Testing of all Six Semicircular Canals with Video Head Impulse Test Systems
Published on: April 18, 2019
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Video Head Impulse Test in Persons with Blindness: Feasibility and Outcomes
Raghav Hira Jha1, Niraj Kumar Singh1, Prawin Kumar1
1Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
Journal of the American Academy of Audiology
|October 10, 2022
Summary
Persons with blindness (PWB) have reduced vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) gain, indicating vestibular dysfunction. Further research is needed to establish normative data for assessing vestibular disorders in PWB.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Audiology
Background:
- Persons with blindness (PWB) rely on proprioceptive and vestibular cues for balance.
- PWB are susceptible to vestibular disorders, necessitating reliable assessment methods.
- Assessing vestibular function is crucial for diagnosing disorders in PWB.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the feasibility and outcomes of using the video head impulse test (vHIT) in PWB.
- To assess the vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) integrity in PWB using vHIT.
- To compare vHIT results between PWB and normally sighted individuals.
Main Methods:
- Nineteen PWB and 23 age-matched controls participated.
- Video head impulse test (vHIT) was administered to assess the VOR.
- Control group underwent vHIT under three conditions: simulated blindness, daylight without target, and daylight with target.
Main Results:
- VOR gain was abnormal across all semicircular canals in PWB.
- Lateral canals showed the best VOR gain in PWB (0.63), followed by anterior (0.53) and posterior (0.31).
- Control group's VOR gain reduced in simulated blindness; no significant difference with PWB in lateral/anterior canals.
Conclusions:
- Vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) is significantly reduced, but not absent, in PWB.
- Development of normative data for PWB is needed to identify vestibular dysfunction.
- vHIT is a feasible method for assessing VOR in PWB, highlighting potential vestibular deficits.
