To compare symptom burden, functional impact, emotional well-being, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH) and bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP).
Audiologists and vestibular specialists should assess quality-of-life outcomes in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy separately from those with unilateral dysfunction, as these groups likely carry different symptom burdens and counseling needs.
Distinguishing the quality-of-life burden between unilateral and bilateral vestibular disorders informs more targeted vestibular rehabilitation planning and patient counseling.
- 01Cross-sectional study comparing chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH) vs. bilateral vestibulopathy (BV).
- 02Outcomes include symptom burden, functional limitations, emotional well-being, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
- 03Bilateral vestibulopathy is generally expected to produce greater disability, but cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
- 04Published in the International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology (DOI: 10.65717/iao.2026.252104).
- 05Findings can guide vestibular rehabilitation prioritization and patient counseling for each condition.
Patients with bilateral vestibulopathy have different health-related quality of life compared to those with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42345412
- DOI
- 10.65717/iao.2026.252104.
- Journal
- International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 3
- Population
- Adults with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction or bilateral vestibulopathy
- Intervention
- Chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction
- Comparator
- Bilateral vestibulopathy
Primary outcomes
Symptom burden and functional impact; Emotional well-being; Health-related quality of life (HRQoL)