Vestibular Lab Testing: Interpreting the Results in the Headache Patient with Dizziness

Purpose of review: To provide an overview of vestibular lab testing and to familiarize the reader with common results observed in headache patients with dizziness.

Recent findings: The latest research indicates variable levels of both peripheral and central vestibular dysfunction in headache populations with dizziness. Mechanisms may include vestibulocerebellar loss of inhibition, central vestibular network misfiring, and peripheral pathology aggravating central hypersensitization. Headache patients are commonly affected by dizziness stemming from various etiologies. Although history is still the gold standard in diagnosis, vestibular lab testing can identify the integrity of vestibular function. Research is emerging and future directions are encouraging.

Keywords: Calorics; Headache and dizziness; Migraine; Ocular motor testing; Post-traumatic headache; VEMPs; VNG; Vestibular migraine; Vestibular testing; vHITs.