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Evaluation of the influence of aging on vestibular function by the video Head Impulse Test (v-HIT)

ABSTRACT

Purpose

to evaluate the effect of age on vestibular-ocular reflex gain through v-HIT.

Methods

this was a cross-sectional, analytical, observational study conducted with 90 subjects without self-reported otoneurological alterations, who underwent v-HIT examination in order to evaluate semicircular canal gain and cephalic pulse velocity.

Results

the age of the sample ranged from 20 to 83 years. It was decided that the sample be divided into three age groups to facilitate the analysis: 18 to 30 years; 31 to 59 years, and over 60 years old. A decrease in vestibular-ocular reflex gains of the right and posterior semicircular canals was observed with increasing age. The average semicircular canal gain was close to one and the velocities above 100º/s.

Conclusion

the average gain of the semicircular canals is within the normality standards found in the literature. Only the posterior and right anterior semicircular canals showed reduced gain with increasing age.

Keywords:
Ear, Inner; Semicircular canals; Saccades; Postural balance; Aging

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