Investigation of the sensitivity of subjective vestibulo-spinal reflex tests in patients with unilateral vestibular loss

While videonystagmography, which provides an effective assessment of the vestibular system, is not yet widely used in clinics, subjective Vestibulo-Spinal Reflex (VSR) tests that are easy to use, inexpensive, fast and consumable are frequently used. The number of studies on the sensitivity of these commonly used tests in the diagnosis of Unilateral Vestibular Loss (UVL) is limited. Therefore, it is not known which test method should be preferred. The purpose of this study; To investigate the sensitivity of subjective VSR tests in individuals with UVL. A total of 70 individuals aged 18-60 were included in the study. As a result of the caloric test, 40 individuals with canal paresis asymmetry rate of 24% or more were included in the study group; 30 individuals without balance disorder complaints were included in the study as a control group. Fukuda Test, Babinski Weil Test, Tandem Walking Test and Past Pointing Test were used in the evaluation of all participants. Among the subjective tests used, the Fukuda Test had the highest sensitivity in the diagnosis of UVL. Sensitivity values of other tests are Babinski Weil Test, Tandem Walk Test and Past Pointing Test, respectively from high to low. The specificities of the Tandem Walk Test and Past Pointing Test were equal and higher than the other two tests. For patients with right UVL, a positive, moderate correlation was obtained between the percentage of Caloric Test channel paresis asymmetry and the degree of deviation of Fukuda (p <0.05). No statistically significant correlation was found between Babinski Weil Test, Tandem Walk Test, Past Pointing Test results and Caloric Test channel paresis asymmetry percentages (p> 0.05). According to our findings, it was concluded that Fukuda Test can be used as a priority in cases where objective vestibular evaluation methods are not available.