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Balance testing: does it make a difference?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 August 2022

E Watts Open the ORCID record for E Watts [Opens in a new window] ,
K Lindley ,
R Irving  and
L Dalton
E Watts*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
K Lindley
Affiliation:
Department of ENT Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
R Irving
Affiliation:
Department of ENT Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
L Dalton
Affiliation:
Department of ENT Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr E Watts, Department of ENT Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK E-mail: emmawatts3@nhs.net
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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to analyse whether referral for specialist balance testing influences diagnosis and management of patients with dizziness.

Method

This was a retrospective study examining patients referred for vestibular function testing between 1 January 2018 and 30 June 2018.

Results

A total of 101 patients were referred, with 69 patients (68.3 per cent) receiving a preliminary ‘pre-vestibular function testing balance diagnosis’, which included benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (32.7 per cent), Ménière's disease (13.8 per cent) and migraine (14.9 per cent). Following vestibular function testing, revised diagnoses were achieved for 54 patients (53.5 per cent), including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (14.9 per cent), Ménière's disease (3.0 per cent) and migraine (10.9 per cent). Pre-vestibular function testing balance diagnoses were confirmed for 32.4 per cent of patients. If no pre-vestibular function testing suspected diagnosis was provided, vestibular function testing was significantly more likely to be inconclusive. Following vestibular function testing, 38.6 per cent were discharged, 21.7 per cent were referred to another specialty and treatment was commenced for 17.8 per cent of patients.

Conclusion

Referral for vestibular function testing has a role when attempting to answer a clear clinical question. Diagnosing the underlying aetiology of complex imbalance is challenging, but diagnosis can be assisted by judicious use of vestibular function testing.

Keywords

Balance ClinicVestibular Function TestingBPPVVestibular MigraineMeniere'sLabyrinthitisDisequilibriumPresbystasisPresyncopeVertigo
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 137 , Issue 5 , May 2023 , pp. 506 - 514
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Dr E Watts takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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