Helpfulness of the Vibration Test Performed in Room Light on Clients With Inner Ear Problems

Diagnostic Accuracy of the Vibration Induced Nystagmus Test in Room Light.

The purpose of this study is to explore the diagnostic values associated with both a positive and negative Skull Vibration Induced Nystagmus Test (SVINT) performed in room light (with fixation). The hypotheses include: 1. A positive room light SVINT will be identified in individuals with moderate to severe vestibular asymmetries. 2. A positive room light SVINT will be present when 10 beats or more (counted over 10 seconds) of nystagmus are found with fixation blocked.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Vestibular Disease
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Dizziness Handicap Inventory; Behavioral: Global Rating of Change; Behavioral: Patient Acceptable Symptom State; Procedure: Spontaneous Nystagmus Test; Procedure: Gazehold Nystagmus Test; Procedure: Primary Vibration Test

Detailed Description

Dizziness and vertigo account for about four million visits to the Emergency Department per year and costs for management in the Emergency Department are estimated to be about four billion dollars per year. Vestibular problems are a major cause of dizziness. Simple to perform and inexpensive bedside vestibular tests are needed. The Skull Vibration-Induced Nystagmus Test (SVINT) with fixation blocked has been considered a vestibular gold standard test with strong psychometric values. No studies on the diagnostic accuracy of the SVINT in room light have been performed.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 256

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with complaints of dizziness, vertigo, and/or imbalance referred to the hospital outpatient physical therapy department.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clients 18 years and older with complaint of dizziness, vertigo, and/or imbalance who are willing to proceed with procedures of study.
• Inclusion for control group: no history of dizziness, vertigo, and/or imbalance.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Conditions that warrant immediate referral to the Emergency Department or Primary Care Physician (undiagnosed and unstable disorders relating to cardiac, neurologic, metabolic, etc, dysfunction); no history of dizziness, vertigo, and/or balance problems.
• Clients with conditions that therapists believe may be aggravated by testing including, but not limited to: variants of head injuries, migraines, seizure disorders, panic/anxiety, claustrophobia, severe headache and/or nausea, and hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Primary Vibration Test	Under room light, the presence or absence of nystagmus is determined. If nystagmus is present, then the direction of nystagmus is determined. When fixation is blocked, the presence or absence of nystagmus is determined. If nystagmus is present, then the direction of nystagmus is determined. The number of beats per 10 sec is also determined.	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Dizziness Handicap Inventory	Score on DHI.	Baseline; last day of physical therapy, an average of 4 weeks
Global Rating of Change	Score on Global Rating of Change	Baseline; last day of physical therapy, an average of 4 weeks
Patient Acceptable Symptom State	Yes or No response	Baseline; last day of physical therapy, an average of 4 weeks
Spontaneous Nystagmus Test	Presence, intensity, and direction of nystagmus is determined	Baseline
Gazehold Nystagmus Test	Presence, intensity, and direction of nystagmus is determined	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Aultman Health Foundation
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Andy Beltz, PT, Aultman Health Foundation

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 26, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): January 26, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 1, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 9, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): December 10, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 18, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 14, 2020
• Last Verified: January 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Skull vibration induced nystagmus test; mastoid vibration test
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Labyrinth Diseases; Ear Diseases; Vestibular Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2015.11.19.F1