Mobile Fall Risk Screening Using the 4-Stage Balance Test With Vestibular Challenge

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of mobile device technology to measure postural stability and to assess the preliminary effect of an added dynamic vestibular task in the 4-Stage Balance Test (4SBT) in adults over 65 years. It was hypothesized that adding a dynamic vestibular task would make the 4SBT more sensitive in identifying fall risk.

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If validated further, mobile-device-based administration of the 4-Stage Balance Test with vestibular challenge could enable scalable fall-risk screening in community and primary care settings — but audiologists should await peer-reviewed validation data before replacing standardised in-clinic assessments.

Extending vestibular fall-risk screening to mobile platforms could dramatically increase access to balance assessment, particularly for older adults and underserved populations who lack access to specialist audiology or vestibular clinics.

1. 01Researchers evaluated mobile devices as tools for administering the 4-Stage Balance Test with an added dynamic vestibular challenge.
2. 02The study appears in the American Journal of Audiology, a peer-reviewed clinical journal.
3. 03Mobile-based postural stability measurement could enable fall-risk screening outside traditional clinic settings.
4. 04A vestibular challenge component was added to the standard 4-Stage Balance Test to increase sensitivity for inner-ear balance problems.
5. 05Findings could support audiologists and vestibular specialists in community-based fall prevention programs.

PMID

42961080

DOI

10.1044/2026_AJA-26-00027.

Journal

American Journal of Audiology

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Adults undergoing fall-risk screening with vestibular assessment

Intervention

Mobile device-based administration of the 4-Stage Balance Test with dynamic vestibular challenge

Comparator

Standard in-clinic 4-Stage Balance Test administration