This preliminary study aimed to examine spatial auditory perception and selected cognitive functions in individuals with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders and clinically normal hearing.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Preliminary findings suggest spatial hearing may be subtly altered in unilateral vestibular disorders, but the exploratory design means no clinical protocol changes are warranted at this time.
If vestibular dysfunction consistently affects spatial auditory processing, it would support more comprehensive audiological evaluation — including spatial hearing tests — in this patient population.
- 01Adults with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders were assessed for spatial hearing and selected cognitive functions.
- 02Exploratory design; sample size and statistics should be interpreted cautiously.
- 03Potential link between vestibular and spatial auditory processing highlighted.
- 04Cognitive performance was also assessed alongside spatial hearing.
- 05Published in the American Journal of Audiology, broadening its relevance to audiologists.
Individuals with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders may have altered spatial auditory perception.
studyunclearUnilateral vestibular disorders are associated with changes in selected cognitive functions.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42748327
- DOI
- 10.1044/2026_AJA-26-00014.
- Journal
- American Journal of Audiology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Individuals with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders
- Intervention
- Spatial auditory perception assessment and selected cognitive function testing
Primary outcomes
Spatial hearing performance; Cognitive function measures