Examination of the effectiveness of the Active Head Shaking Nystagmus Test for the diagnosis of vestibular neuritis

Abstract

　The Head Shaking Nystagmus Test (HSNT) is an effective test for simply evaluating unilateral inner ear disorders. However, performing the HSNT passively in elderly patients can cause unexpected iatrogenic complications. For this reason, the present study compared the Active Head Shaking Nystagmus Test (AHSNT), which was performed by the patients themselves, with the air caloric test. The two tests were performed at the same visit, and the results were compared between patients diagnosed as having vestibular neuritis (VN) and those diagnosed as having sudden vertigo. The effectiveness of AHSNT for the diagnosis of VN was then examined. The Active Head Shaking Nystagmus (AHSN) score was significantly higher in the VN group than in the sudden vertigo group among the acute vertigo cases. No complications arising from the AHSNT were seen. Consequently, the test was considered to be an effective and safe means of easily differentiating VN.