Rehabilitation for Bilateral Loss of Vestibular Functions

Vestibular stimulation is a popular clinical treatment for enhancing the acquisition of central compensation in cases of unilateral vestibular disturbance (BPPV, Vestibular neuritis etc…), but it is not often used for bilateral vestibular disturbances. A 37-year-old woman, given 20g of Streptomysin sulfate intramuscularly, suffered from dizziness and oscillopsia for about 20 years. Her caloric test indicated almost total canal paralysis bilaterally, so it was thought to be a bilateral vestibular disturbance. She was trained by a new combination of vestibular, visual and proprioceptive stimulation for 32 days. Our training was useful of disequilibrium and dizziness in reducing complaints. We evaluated the effects of training on equilibrium by stabilometry, stepping test, and gait test.