Vestibular Rehab question

[Nicole Sinwell]

Hello all,

I noticed in the Vestibular Rehab treatment section that habituation techniques are only indicated for unilateral or central vestibular dysfunction. I’m wondering why habituation wouldn’t work with patients with bilateral hypofunction? Thanks in advance for your help!

[Chrissy Durrough Lugge]

Hi Nicole! Thanks for this question! Research has shown that habituation does not yield significant improvement in function/disability in individuals with bilateral vestibular hypofunction.

Here are a couple sources:
– Herdman (2006): “Habituation exercises are not appropriate for patients with BVH. In contrast to patients with UVH, patients with BVH
performing a program of habituation exercises have no significant improvement in disability, even after 3 months of exercises (Telian et al, 1991).”
-https://journals.lww.com/continuum/fulltext/2006/08000/VESTIBULAR_REHABILITATION.10.aspx
– Han (2011): “Habituation exercises are inappropriate for patients with bilateral vestibular loss, because they are designed to decrease
unwanted responses to vestibular signals rather than to improve gaze or postural stability.”
– https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3259492/pdf/jcn-7-184.pdf

Hope this helps! Happy holidays!

Chrissy

[Nicole Sinwell]

Thanks so much! And happy holidays! 🙂

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