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.
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.
- 01Vestibular implants are a neuroprosthetic approach for patients with permanent bilateral vestibular failure (total loss of balance function in both ears).
- 02Current evidence supports proof-of-concept but devices remain investigational and are not yet in routine clinical use.
- 03The review summarizes key technical, surgical, and patient-selection challenges remaining before widespread adoption.
- 04Published in the New Zealand Medical Journal (doi:10.26635/6965.7420).
- 05Future directions include improved electrode design, candidacy criteria, and long-term outcome data.
Vestibular implants can provide neuroprosthetic benefit to patients with bilateral vestibular failure.
studypartially supportedVestibular implants are not yet ready for routine clinical use and require further research.
opinionsupported- 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
Primary outcomes
Current evidence for vestibular implant efficacy; Future research directions for vestibular implant development