Isolated Otolith Dysfunction and Vertigo

While symptoms and signs of semicircular canal dysfunction have been recognized well, those of otolith organ dysfunction are less recognized, although it is supposed that otolith organ dysfunction may cause non-spinning, translation, tilt, floating, or flipping-over sensation. One of the reasons was a lack of convenient clinical assessment tools of the otolith organ function. Recently, development of the vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing enabled clinicians to assess otolith function at their clinic. cVEMP is a test of saccular function and oVEMP is a test of utricular function. Other clinical tests, such as subjective visual vertical (SVV) testing and eccentric rotation test, are also available. Now, rounding up knowledge concerning “isolated otolith dysfunction and vertigo” to ameliorate its diagnostic criteria is required.

Basic objectives of this research topic are preparation for establishing diagnostic criteria of “isolated otolith dysfunction and vertigo”. This Research Topic aims at a better understanding of otolith dysfunction and its signs/symptoms, with the aim to improve diagnosis and patients’ prognosis.

Thus, topic editors will welcome any types of manuscripts - research article, brief research article, review, and mini-review- about, but not limited to the following themes:

• Clinical and neurophysiological study concerning otolith organ dysfunction;

• Epidemiological survey;

• Aging and otolith dysfunction, especially in comparison with canal dysfunction;

• Otolith dysfunction in pediatric population;

• Inner ear anomaly and otolith function;

• Bilateral otolith dysfunction with preserved canal function;

• New tests for otolith function assessment;

• Imaging studies (for example, vestibular endolymphatic hydrops in MRI and otolith dysfunction);

• Genetic study concerning otolith dysfunction with preserved canal and cochlear function;

• Comparative study of isolated otolith dysfunction with PPPD (persistent postural-perceptual dizziness);

• Development of new test tools for otolith function assessment;

• Clarification of problems to be solved for establishing the diagnostic criteria of “isolated otolith dysfunction and vertigo.”