Subjective Visual Vertical Tilt Attraction to the Side of Rod Presentation: Effects of Age, Sex, and Vestibular Disorders.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of initial rod position on the subjective visual vertical (SVV) tilt and to investigate the effect of sex and age on the SVV tilt induced by this initial position.


METHODS
Prospective cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
The study included 6598 consecutive patients with a large range of vestibular disorders and 333 control subjects. The mean age was 55 years (range, 3-97), and the sex ratio was 0.6.


METHODS
SVV was measured by presenting a phosphorescent rod 12 times in total darkness with a 45-degree deviation from the vertical alternatively on the right and left. The patient was asked to replace the bar vertically with a remote control.


RESULTS
On average, SVV at each iteration was tilted to the side of the rod presentation. It was stronger in female subjects, in younger individuals (<20 years) and seniors (>50). It was also higher in patients with a left vestibular loss in comparison to those with a right involvement.


CONCLUSIONS
These effects suggest that short-term visual memory and multisensory cortical processing interfere with SVV measurements.
*Centre d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Otoneurologiques; †Institut de Recherche Oto-Neurologique (IRON), Paris; ‡Otolaryngology Department, Dijon University Hospital, and Burgundy University, Dijon, France; §Neurological Rehabilitation Department, Brugmann University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium; and ∥CNRS, UMR-6306, Electronic, Image and Computer Research Laboratory, Dijon, France.
Michel
M
Toupet
Christian
C
Van Nechel
Alexis Bozorg
AB
Grayeli
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult