Vestibular Research Studies
Below are clinical studies that are currently recruiting research study participants. You can find more studies recruiting patients at ClinicalTrials.gov.
*If you are a VeDA professional member and would like to recruit participants for your research study, click here to submit your request.
Characterizing Comorbidity between Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Dizziness
Objective: The purpose of this thesis study is to assess the relationship between POTS, dizziness symptoms, and performance on a virtual dynamic visual acuity test (DVAT). We are studying how self-reported dizziness symptoms in POTS patients and vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) impairments are related. We are also studying how often symptoms of ‘dizziness’ are reported by POTS patients. By doing this study, we hope to improve referral pathways for POTS patients experiencing vestibular symptoms.
Participation Criteria: Inclusion criteria include the following: Ages (15-50), English speaking, and report of diagnostically confirmed POTS. Exclusion criteria include the following: impairments preventing the use of a computer for virtual meeting; cognitive impairment hindering comprehension of the informed consent process and verbal directions while participating in the study; and diagnosed vestibular dysfunction. Participants will be excluded if they have best-corrected visual acuity worse than 20/40 in the better eye, uncorrected refractive error that is not corrected during testing, reported ocular motor abnormalities (e.g., strabismus, internuclear ophthalmoplegia), central visual field loss, significant contrast sensitivity loss (e.g., cataract), active ocular disease, or any condition that would preclude accurate recognition of optotypes during testing. Participants will be excluded if they cannot comfortably achieve ~±20° active cervical rotation at ~2 Hz; report neck pain ≥4/10 or pain provoked by test movements; have a history of acute cervical injury within 12 weeks, cervical spine surgery or fusion, cervical instability or conditions predisposing to instability (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis with C1–C2 involvement).
Collaborators:
Tessa French, B.A, Towson University
Ashley Zaleski-King, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, Towson University
Jamie M. Bogle, AuD, PhD, CCC-A, ABAC-VASC, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science
Christina Kokorelis, MD, Johns Hopkins & Kennedy Krieger Institute
Contact: Tessa French, (732) 546-7251, [email protected]
Provider Perspectives on Barriers to Quality Vestibular Rehabilitation: A Qualitative Study
This study aims to understand the challenges and needs of clinicians who provide vestibular rehabilitation to patients who have dealt with dizziness for 3 months or greater. Involves a one-time virtual interview (30–45 minutes) via Zoom and brief survey (less than 10 minutes to complete) via RedCAP. Flexible scheduling to accommodate your availability. Discussion topics include experiences, barriers, and recommendations related to vestibular rehabilitation in chronically dizzy patients.
Who Can Participate?
- Licensed physical therapists, occupational therapists, or other specialists practicing vestibular rehabilitation in the U.S.
- At least 1 year of patient care experience.
- Currently engaged in ≥25% direct patient care.
- At least 25% of the caseload includes patients with dizziness lasting >3 months.
$50 gift card to compensate for time after participation in the interview.
Results expected 1/27/27
Sponsor: University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science
Contact: Jennifer Burus, [email protected]
Clinical Trial Study: Developing Robust Treatment Options for Mal de Débarquement Syndrome
Human Balance Laboratory at the Neurology Department of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
The purpose of this research study is to develop better treatment options for Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS). MdDS is an under-recognized balance disorder, which in most cases follows a long ride on a ship or plane and is characterized by sensations of rocking/swaying or gravitational pull. Patients with MdDS typically experience additional symptoms such as increased sensitivity to visual motion (visually induced dizziness, VID), physical motion (motion sickness, MS), and other physical, or sensation problems. Treatment options for MdDS are limited, but it was recently shown that a therapy developed in our laboratory combining vision and head motion yielded significant long-term improvement of symptoms in about 50% of patients. This research will build on this success by:
- Testing the usefulness of virtual reality (VR) technology as a treatment;
- Supplementing the original treatments with an additional treatment that focuses on VID or MS symptoms; and
- Testing treatments that address gravitational pull sensation.
You may qualify to take part in this research study if:
- You are in age range 18-78.
- You are not blind and do not have severe vestibular (visual), cerebellar (brain) or locomotion disorders (movement).
- You report a sensation of non-spinning vertigo (rocking, swaying, bobbing, walking on a trampoline, gravitational pull) or pulling, which are present while lying down, sitting, or standing and temporarily stop during passive transportation such as a car ride.
- You can stay within 1 hour from our laboratory in New York City during the five-day period of experimental treatment.
- You do not take benzodiazepines on a daily basis. If you do, consult with your doctor whether the medication can be weaned off with supervision and/or have it replaced with an alternative medication.
Your participation in this research study is expected to last for 6 months after the treatment in the form of follow-up questionnaires. A total of 200 people are expected to take part in this research study.
If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact:
- Sergei Yakushin, PhD, (212) 241-9349, [email protected]
- Jun Maruta, PhD, (212) 241-7068, [email protected]
Funds for conducting this research are provided by the National Institute of Health/National Institute of Deaf and Other Communication Disorders (NIH/NIDCD).
For more information, please visit: https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05460520
