Effect of Peripheral Vestibular Pathology Location on the Ability of Home-based Virtual Reality to Improve Symptoms of Peripheral Vestibular Disorders
This parallel-group randomized controlled trial aims to determine if the location of the lesion(s) in the vestibular system (unilateral versus bilateral, lateral semi-circular canal versus otolith) impacts the effectiveness of adjunct take-home head-mounted display (HMD) virtual reality (VR) therapy in improving patient symptomatology. Fifty patients meeting inclusion criteria will be recruited from the principal investigator's neurotology clinic. Baseline symptomatology questionnaires will be completed, followed by random allocation to virtual reality and control groups. Vestibular rehabilitation and virtual reality protocols will be adhered to for 4 to 8 weeks, followed by symptomatology questionnaires. Data analysis will be conducted to answer the study's objectives.
• Participants diagnosed with chronic (≥3 months) unilateral or bilateral peripheral vestibular disorders such as vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, ischemic lesion and trauma.
• Diagnosis made using caloric testing (≥25% reduced vestibular response) and either ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) or cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) testing.
• Participants prescribed vestibular rehabilitation
• Participants ≥18 years of age
• Access to an android or iOS smart phone