Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT) in preadolescents with dizzines could be a safe choice?

Background: The detection of objective changes in the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in preadolescents with complaint of dizziness is not easy to be registered. The Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT) is an objective exam that quickly analyzes this subject in adults and could be an alternative to this age group.

Objective: Verify the feasibility of performing the Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT) in preadolescents with dizziness.

Methods: Preadolescents with dizziness crisis in the last thirty days were included in the study. They should not have had cervical or visual diseases and must be collaborative to the head movements during the exam. Audiometry was performed and might be normal. Middle and outer otitis were excluded. Video Head Impulse signal were captured from the eye with the best visual acuity. Stimulation was performed in three axes: 1) from the right anterior semicircular canal to the left posterior one (RALP); 2) from the left anterior semicircular canal to the right posterior one (LARP) and 3) from the right lateral canal to the left one. At end, vestibulo-ocular gain could be measured in each six semicircular canals. The sample consisted of three boys (3/5) and two girls (2/5). Age ranged between 10 and 13 years. Mean was 11.4 years and median was 11 years.

Results: The analysis of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in every six semicircular canals could be performed because it was possible to be obtained between seven and fifteen reliable samples of signals for the five participants. None of then had any complaints during or after the examination. The gain means of the right and left lateral semicircular canal was 0.87. The gain mean of the right posterior semicircular canal was 0.90 and 0.95 for the left one. The gain mean of the right anterior semicircular canal was 0.93 and 1,09 for the left one. Gain was considered normal for two participants of the sample, decreased gain was found in a single lateral semicircular canal for two preadolescents and decreased gain was found in a single posterior semicircular canal for another one.

Conclusions: In the current study, Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT) was safely applied and the vestibulo-ocular signals obtained were reliable for the studied group with dizziness. The gain analysis can help the physician in the propaedeutic of diseases that affect the semicircular canals and the vestibular nerve of preadolescents.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
18. September 2023