Evaluation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex with the functional head impulse test in people with motion sickness

In this study, we aimed to examine functional VOR values with and without optokinetic background stimulation in fHIT (functional head impulse test) in individuals with motion sickness.

Forty-two individuals between the ages of 18–50 years were included in study. The lateral fHIT test was applied to the motion sickness group and the control group with and without dynamic optokinetic (OKN) background stimulation.

In the control group, no significant difference was observed in the correct response percentages (% CA) for fHIT and OKN-fHIT for the right and left lateral canals (p > 0.05). In the MS group, a significant difference was observed when comparing fHIT and OKN-fHIT correct response percentages for the right and left lateral canals (p < 0.05).

It has been observed that the optokinetic background triggers the disease in individuals with MS, and there is a decrease in the percentage of correct readings in the fHIT.