Vestibular implants in bilateral vestibular failure: current evidence and future directions

AIMS: Bilateral vestibular failure is a rare and disabling condition for which restorative treatment options remain limited. Vestibular implants have emerged as a potential neuroprosthetic intervention. This review summarises current evidence for vestibular implantation and considers relevant clinical, ethical and health system implications, including the New Zealand healthcare context.

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No actionable change for routine clinical practice; vestibular implants remain investigational, but audiologists treating bilateral vestibular failure patients should monitor this literature as the field advances toward potential clinical availability.

Vestibular implants represent a potentially transformative but still investigational treatment for one of audiology's most debilitating and under-addressed conditions.

1. 01Vestibular implants are a neuroprosthetic approach for patients with permanent bilateral vestibular failure (total loss of balance function in both ears).
2. 02Current evidence supports proof-of-concept but devices remain investigational and are not yet in routine clinical use.
3. 03The review summarizes key technical, surgical, and patient-selection challenges remaining before widespread adoption.
4. 04Published in the New Zealand Medical Journal (doi:10.26635/6965.7420).
5. 05Future directions include improved electrode design, candidacy criteria, and long-term outcome data.

PMID

42348895

DOI

10.26635/6965.7420.

Journal

New Zealand Medical Journal

Publication type

review

Evidence level

5

Population

Patients with bilateral vestibular failure

Intervention

Vestibular implants as a neuroprosthetic intervention