Visual vertigo analogue scale: an assessment questionnaire for visual vertigo.

A common symptom for people with vestibulopathy is dizziness induced by dynamic visual input, known as visual vertigo (VV). The goal of this study is to present a novel method to assess VV, using a nine-item analog scale. The subjects rated the intensity of their dizziness on each item of the Visual Vertigo Analogue Scale (VVAS), which represented a daily situation typically inducing VV. The questionnaire was completed by participants with vestibulopathy (n=102) and by subjects receiving out-patient orthopaedic physiotherapy (n=102). The dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) was also completed by the vestibulopathic group. The Cronbach's Alpha index indicated the VVAS is internally consistent and reliable (Cronbach's Alpha=0.94). The study also found that the VVAS severity scores from vestibular and a non-vestibular population were significantly different (Wilcoxon-Mann Whitney test p < 0.0001). Spearman correlation analysis conducted between DHI and VVAS scores for the clients with vestibulopathy showed positive moderate correlations between the VVAS score and the total DHI score (r=0.67, p< 0.0001). This study showed that the VVAS scale may be useful in providing a quantitative evaluation scale of visual vertigo.

[1]  Adolfo M Bronstein,et al.  Vision and vertigo: some visual aspects of vestibular disorders. , 2004, Journal of neurology.

[2]  Chih-Pei Chang,et al.  A Theory for Treating Dizziness Due to Optical Flow (Visual Vertigo) , 2008, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[3]  M. Jensen,et al.  Comparative reliability and validity of chronic pain intensity measures , 1999, PAIN.

[4]  Sabarish V. Babu,et al.  Responses to a Virtual Reality Grocery Store in Persons with and without Vestibular Dysfunction , 2006, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[5]  A. Berthoz,et al.  Repeated optokinetic stimulation in conditions of active standing facilitates recovery from vestibular deficits , 2004, Experimental Brain Research.

[6]  M. A. Gresty,et al.  Simulator based rehabilitation in refractory dizziness , 2004, Journal of Neurology.

[7]  L. Yardley,et al.  Measuring outcome from vestibular rehabilitation, part II: Refinement and validation of a new self-report measure , 2009, International journal of audiology.

[8]  Mark S Redfern,et al.  Simulator sickness when performing gaze shifts within a wide field of view optic flow environment: preliminary evidence for using virtual reality in vestibular rehabilitation , 2004, Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation.

[9]  Vestibular Adaptation Exercises and Recovery: Acute Stage after Acoustic Neuroma Resection , 1995 .

[10]  L. Yardley,et al.  Measuring outcome from Vestibular Rehabilitation, Part I: Qualitative development of a new self-report measure , 2008, International journal of audiology.

[11]  A. Bronstein,et al.  Visual vertigo: symptom assessment, spatial orientation and postural control. , 2001, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[12]  M. Redfern,et al.  Space and motion discomfort and abnormal balance control in patients with anxiety disorders , 2008, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.

[13]  Joseph M. Furman,et al.  Panic disorder with vestibular dysfunction: Further clinical observations and description of space and motion phobic stimuli , 1989 .

[14]  J. Waterston.  Chronic migrainous vertigo , 2004, Journal of Clinical Neuroscience.

[15]  A. Mallinson,et al.  Visual Vestibular Mismatch in Work-Related Vestibular Injury , 2005, Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology.

[16]  C. Patterson,et al.  Quantifying meaningful changes in pain , 1998, Anaesthesia.

[17]  C. Newman,et al.  The development of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory. , 1990, Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery.

[18]  Sheila R. Woody,et al.  Discomfort with space and motion: A possible marker of vestibular dysfunction assessed by the situational characteristics questionnaire , 1993 .

[19]  J. Furman,et al.  Physical Therapy for Migraine‐Related Vestibulopathy and Vestibular Dysfunction With History of Migraine , 2000, The Laryngoscope.

[20]  Erik Viirre,et al.  Vestibular Rehabilitation Using Visual Displays: Preliminary Study , 2002, The Laryngoscope.

[21]  C. Bilgen,et al.  Short-term effects of vestibular rehabilitation in patients with chronic unilateral vestibular dysfunction: a randomized controlled study. , 2009, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[22]  T. Ledin,et al.  Influence of asymmetry of vestibular caloric response and age on balance and perceived symptoms after acute unilateral vestibular loss , 2006, Clinical rehabilitation.

[23]  Visual vestibular mismatch in patients treated with intratympanic gentamicin for Meniere's disease. , 2002, The Journal of otolaryngology.

[24]  Michael C Schubert,et al.  Vertical Dynamic Visual Acuity in Normal Subjects and Patients with Vestibular Hypofunction , 2002, Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology.