Abstract
Objective: Report on the effects of a neurofeedback-based vestibular training (VT) with a recently developed vibrotactile prosthesis (VertiGuard RT) in patients with stage IV Ménière disease (due to AAO-HNS) and resulting otolith disorders (ie, macular degeneration).
Method: A total of 17 patients with long-standing, bilateral Ménière disease were diagnosed with accompanying otolith (macular) disorders. The patients were free of vertiginous (Ménière) attacks but complained of an increased sway in roll/pitch (DHI 56.3 mean). Otolith diagnostics (VEMP, eccentric rotation) revealed combined sacculo-utricular (12) and bilateral utricular (5) degeneration.
Results: All patients were tested with the standard balance deficit test, and the 6 worst test conditions were used for the neurofeedback-based training. Body sway could be reduced by 36% in roll and by 35% in pitch, and DHI scores were reduced by 25 points on average.
Conclusion: Neurofeedback-based vestibular rehab with a recently developed, vestibular prosthesis (VertiGuard RT) gives long-term, postural stability to patients with otolith degeneration as late sequaelae of Ménière disease.
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