The use of virtual reality for the treatment of visual vertigo
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The use of a virtual reality headset for the treatment of visual vertigo symptoms.
IRAS ID
209735
Contact name
Paul Bacon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
5374, Academic Institution Ref Number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 15 days
Research summary
This study will investigate the use of virtual environments presented on a head mounted display for the rehabilitation of those suffering with visual vertigo (VV). VV occurs after the balance system suffers damage (e.g after a viral infection such as labyrinthitis). The VV symptoms leads to feelings of imbalance and disorientation in busy visual environments e.g. supermarkets, escalators and fast paced action films (Pavlou et al., 2012). This is caused by an over-reliance on the eyes to maintain balance and is treated by trying to desensitise the individual to visually stimulating situations (Pavlou et al., 2012) The patient will be enrolled in a six-week treatment program and will be randomly allocated into either the treatment or control group. All patients will perform head and eye movement exercises within the environment using objects in the environments to focus on. All participants will complete at home rehabilitation exercises and be encouraged to go for three 20-30 minute walks per week. The difference between the control and treatment group is the level of visual stimulation experienced in the virtual environment. The control group will experience no additional visual stimulation in the environment, the treatment group will progress through a series of increasingly intense visual environments (rated 1-7). Outcome measures will be used pre and post treatment to compare the differences between groups. Outcome measures include the Situational Characteristic Questionnaire (to monitor VV symptom level), the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 (to monitor anxiety and depression levels), and head tracking information will be taken from the headset to see if the patient move their head more freely at the end of treatment.
Pavlou, M.,et al. (2012). The effect of virtual reality on visual vertigo symptoms in patients with peripheral vestibular dysfunction: A pilot study. Journal of Vestibular Research. 22: 273-281.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0377
Date of REC Opinion
1 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion