Question
With unilateral vestibular loss, what findings might you expect for phase when performing rotational chair testing?Answer
The phase parameter in the rotation chair test after a unilateral loss of vestibular function depends on the extent of the loss and the pre-lesion phase. For an average person, the phase is such that it requires about 50% of unilateral loss before phase becomes abnormal. However, if the pre-lesion phase is much lower than average, the loss has to be greater and sometimes, even 100% loss may not be adequate to drive the phase into the abnormal range.
More information on this topic can be found in Dr. Barin's course, Correlations in Vestibular Test Findings.
Kamran Barin, Ph.D. is the Director of Balance Disorders Clinic at the Ohio State University Medical Center and Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, and Biomedical Engineering Program. He received his Master's and Doctorate degrees in Electrical/Biomedical Engineering from The Ohio State University. He has taught national and international courses and seminars in different areas of vestibular assessment and rehabilitation. He has served on NIH and NASA panels and was an appointed member of the Equilibrium Subcommittee of the American Neurotology Society. He works as a consultant to GN Otometrics and provides courses and other educational material to the company.
