[Effect of passive music intervention in patients with acute unilateral vestibulopathy]

Literature already reports on positive effects of complementary medicine music interventions on anxiety, depression, pain and stress. These symptoms are frequently observed in patients with acute vestibular vertigo. However, there are no studies on the effect of music interventions in terms of quality of life (QoL) and reduction of symptoms in these patients. The present study aims to investigate these effects, particularly on vertigo symptoms and health-related QoL.

Patients with acute unilateral vestibulopathy confirmed by diagnostic tests were enroled in a prospective intervention study approved by the local ethics committee. The intervention group was asked to listen to music for 60 minutes daily. They recorded their dizziness intensity in a diary over the 14-day observation period using a numerical rating scale (NRS). QoL was assessed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) on days 1, 3 and 14 after the start of the intervention.

A total of 25 patients were included, 13 in the intervention and 12 patients in the control group. On day 14, mean DHI score was significantly lower in the intervention group at 16.92 points than in the control group at 24.17 points (p = 0.01). The dizziness intensity determined using the NRS tended to be lower in the intervention group at the end of the music intervention, but without being statically significant (p > 0.05).

A positive effect of music intervention in acute unilateral vestibulopathy was found, especially at the end of the intervention. Due to their ubiquitous availability, passive music interventions can be easily implemented in clinical practice and could be a useful additional component in the treatment of acute peripheral vestibular vertigo.