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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate quality of life and reveal the actual benefit of vestibular rehabilitation (VR) in patients with vestibular neuronitis. Study Design: Prospective. Patients: Patients diagnosed with vestibular neuronitis. Group 1 included patients who started VR within first month of disease and group 2 comprised patients who began VR after more than a month from symptoms onset. Group 2 served as control group because they began VR after group 1 had already finished one month of VR. Intervention: One month of VR. Main Outcome Measures: Quality of life was assessed before and after VR, using Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC), disability scale and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results: The whole lot achieved improvements in all questionnaires (p < 0.05) after VR. When group 1 scores after one month of VR were compared to control group results before VR, we found statistically significant differences in ABC, DHI-Physical and VAS (p < 0.05). After one month of VR, 10 patients became symptom-free, while 9 patients still had bothering symptoms and continued VR. The latter category scored significantly higher levels of intensity of symptoms on VAS during first examination (p <0.05). Conclusion: VR improves quality of life after vestibular neuronitis, regardless the time of beginning. It increases self-confidence and reduces intensity of symptoms during usual activities. Higher VAS scores at first evaluation may predict a longer VR period needed. Acknowledgements: This study is partially supported by the Sectoral Operational Programme for Human Resources Development, financed from the European Social Fund and by Romanian Government under the contracts number POSDRU/89/1.5/S/64109 and POSDRU/89/1.5/S/64331.

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