Investigation of the factors affecting the success of vestibular rehabilitation therapy in patients with idiopathic unilateral vestibular hypofunction and idiopathic bilateral vestibular hypofunction

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the  factors affecting the success of vestibular rehabilitation  therapy (VRT) in patients with idiopathic unilateral vestibular  hypofunction (UVH) and idiopathic bilateral vestibular  hypofunction (BVH). Methods: 30 patients with idiopathic UVH and 30 patients  with idiopathic BVH were included in this prospective  study. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate  the severity of the patients’ complaints of dizziness. The  duration of the complaint of dizziness was recorded. All  patients underwent the Dizziness Handicap Inventory  (DHI) before and after VRT. The severity, duration, and  localization (unilateral/bilateral) of the vestibular hypofunction  were compared with the efficacy of VRT. Results: A significant decrease in DHI scores was observed  after VRT for both, UVH and BVH patients, as compared  to their pre-VRT scores (p<0.001). There was no significant  difference in the efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation  therapy in patients with UVH and BVH (p=0.09). As the  VAS scores increased and the duration of the complaint  lengthened, the efficacy of VRT decreased significantly  (p<0.001/r=5.6, p=0.016/r=3.1, respectively). Conclusion : VRT is an effective treatment for the relief  of symptoms in both UVH and BVH patients. Unilateral  or bilateral vestibular hypofunction does not affect the  efficacy of VRT, whereas prolonged or severe symptoms  of dizziness affect the effectiveness of VRT negatively.  In idiopathic vestibular hypofunction patients with  long-standing and/or severe dizziness complaints, VRT  should be initiated immediately and continued longer.