Impact of Vestibular Lesion Location on Effectiveness of Home-Based Virtual Reality Therapy for Peripheral Vestibular Disorders

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating how the location of lesions in the peripheral vestibular system affects the benefits of at-home virtual reality therapy combined with standard vestibular rehabilitation. This randomized controlled trial focuses on patients with chronic unilateral or bilateral peripheral vestibular disorders such as vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, and Ramsay Hunt syndrome. The study aims to understand how lesion location impacts symptom improvement and to assess any side effects of the virtual reality therapy. Participants will be assigned to one of two groups. Both groups will receive standard vestibular rehabilitation involving weekly 40-45 minute in-person physiotherapy sessions and daily at-home exercises for 4 to 8 weeks depending on diagnosis. One group will use a head-mounted virtual reality headset to play a specially selected video game for 20 minutes daily as an adjunct therapy, while the control group will wear the headset with an auditory intervention for the same daily duration. Researchers will collect baseline data two weeks before treatment, provide a tutorial on using the VR device, and monitor adherence with diaries and questionnaires. Throughout the study, participants will complete symptom questionnaires including the Dizziness Handicap Inventory DHI, Activities-specific Balance Confidence ABC scale, and Simulator Sickness Questionnaire SSQ at baseline, during, and after the intervention. Data collection will be done remotely through phone or video calls. After completion, VR equipment will be returned and disinfected. The research team will analyze changes in symptom scores to evaluate the effect of lesion location on therapy outcomes. The total study duration for each participant includes up to 8 weeks of treatment plus follow-up assessments two weeks post-intervention.

Effect of Peripheral Vestibular Disease Location on Outcomes Following Home-based Virtual Reality Vestibular Therapy