Effect of peripheral vestibular pathologies on reading ability and auditory-verbal memory
Abstract
Background and Aim: Auditory-verbal memory and reading problems are frequently observed in patients with vestibular disorders, but rarely considered as a cognitive consequence of vestibular disease. Many clinicians do not recognize or ignore the psychological symptoms of vestibular disease. This approach could underestimate the cognitive problems of the patients, or even led to misdiagnosis of a combined vestibular-cognitive condition. The current study aimed to assess the cognitive impact of acute vestibular disorders.
Methods: A total of 71 patients with unilateral vestibular neuritis, Meniere’s disease, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo underwent a through audiologic evaluation, including otoscopy, pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, videonystagmography plus caloric testing, and video head impulse testing in the plane of horizontal semicircular canals. After determination of the disease, the Persian version of the dizziness handicap inventory, the Persian reading test, and Rey auditory-verbal learning test were administered.
Results: There were no significant difference between the patient groups with regard to their inabilities like reading and learning problems according to their auditory verbal memory score induced by acute vertigo. However, acute vertigo can reduce the reading ability and capacity of auditory-verbal memory of the patients compared with normal subjects.
Conclusion: Unilateral vestibular disorders in which patients suffer from acute rotatory vertigo could lead to reading difficulties and learning because of auditory-verbal memory impairment. The exact mechanism of vestibular impairment is not a determinant factor for these cognitive problems.
