Is the vestibular system damaged in traumatic brain injury?

Dizziness is a common symptom reported within the population of patients with TBI. In addition, this patient population often reports vertigo, gaze instability, motion intolerance, and other symptoms consistent with peripheral vestibular pathology. Whether the patient is a member of the military and suffered a blast exposure or is a teenager recovering from a MVA, physical therapists have a difficult job determining the cause of these symptoms and how to treat them. Clinical evidence of vestibular damage using techniques such as the Dix-Hallpike, head impulse test, oculomotor exam, or head shake nystagmus can provide some measure of confidence in knowing if the vestibular end organ or central pathways are damaged. What tests do you use to distinguish between peripheral and central vestibular dysfunction in people with TBI, and what differences are there in your interventions between the two?Tags: Vestibular Rehabilitation; vestibular; TBIPublished: 11/21/2012 12:17:00 PM
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