VeDA supports researchers working to improve care for vestibular patients by providing grants to cover travel expenses so they can present their original research on projects focused on vestibular patient outcomes at medical conferences.
Congratulations to Andrew Wagner, who received a grant from VeDA to attend the American Balance Society Annual Meeting and present his research, highlighted below.
Understanding Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction
Why One Test Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story
People living with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH)—a condition in which the balance organs in both inner ears are damaged—often describe feeling unsteady, dizzy, or disconnected from their surroundings. In the United States alone, BVH affects more than 64,000 adults and can dramatically reduce quality of life. New research by Andrew Wagner, PT, DPT, PhD, from Creighton University, sheds important light on why this condition can look so different from one person to the next.
Why BVH Is Hard to Measure
Traditionally, vestibular testing focuses on one main function, often how well the eyes stay focused during head movement (called gaze stability). But the vestibular system does much more than control eye movements. It also helps us:
- Sense motion and orientation (our internal “GPS”).
- Maintain posture and balance when we’re pushed or moving.
Because these functions rely on distinct pathways in the brain, Dr. Wagner’s team questioned whether a single test could capture the full picture of vestibular health.
A New, More Complete Approach
In this study, researchers used a multimodal testing approach, meaning they assessed several vestibular functions simultaneously. Participants completed 16 different tests that fell into three main categories:
- Gaze stability – how well the eyes stay focused during head movement.
- Self-motion perception – how accurately someone senses movement.
- Postural control – how well someone maintains balance during unexpected challenges.
The study included healthy control participants and people diagnosed with BVH.
What the Researchers Found
Even though all six BVH participants shared the same diagnosis, no two people showed the same pattern of vestibular dysfunction. Importantly:
- Each person had difficulties in some areas, but not all.
- No participant showed severe impairment across all three vestibular functions.
This means someone with BVH might struggle with balance but still have relatively preserved motion perception, or vice versa. These individual differences would likely go unnoticed if clinicians relied on a single standard test.
Why This Matters for Patients
This research helps explain why people with BVH often have very different symptoms and recovery experiences. It also points toward a future where:
- Assessments are more personalized.
- Rehabilitation can be better targeted to each person’s specific challenges.
- Patients may feel more validated when their symptoms don’t “match” a single test result.
As Dr. Wagner’s study continues with more participants, the findings may help shape more comprehensive and individualized care for people living with bilateral vestibular hypofunction.
Research like this—supported by the VeDA Travel Award—plays a critical role in improving diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for the vestibular community.
