New Methods and Applications of Vestibular Electrophysiology in Humans. [ 2001 - 2003 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof James Colebatch (Principal investigator)

Brief description This project consists of a series of experiments and investigations using new methods to test the vestibular apparatus (balance organs). These receptors lie deep within the skull in the inner ear and disease of them can cause dizziness (vertigo) and unsteadiness. Due to their location, investigation of the function of these receptors has been difficult. With NH and MRC support, I have developed two new methods of vestibular assessment. These are now being applied both here and overseas. Perhaps the clearest example of how these new techniques have improved current diagnostic methods is the Tullio phenomenon, in which patients feel dizzy in response to loud sounds. My colleagues and I have shown that these patients always have a characteristic abnormality to click activation of the inner ear, one of the tests that I developed. It is likely to have a very important role in distiguishing between patients with Xray abnormalities predisposing to this condition and those who actually have the full-blown syndrome, so that the correct treatment is offered. This proposal seeks to build on the previous successful one. In it, I propose further new methods of investigating the vestibular apparatus, which avoid some of the preconditions necessary for the present tests and would allow more widespread application of them. Furthermore, additional specific disease states which are characterised by unsteadiness (ataxia) will be assessed with these new methods to determine whether abnormal vestibular reflexes are partly responsible for the loss of balance. In one of the conditions to be investigated, gentamicin-induced vestibular impairment, there is the possibility in the future of applying these techniques to detect changes early, at a time when they are potentially reversible.

Funding Amount $AUD 165,509.18

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant