![]() Yet, after the acute phase or in the chronic patient, vestibular assessment becomes more difficult as the central nervous system activates very efficient adaptive and compensation mechanisms ( 4– 9). The diagnosis of the common vestibular pathologies as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular migraine ( 3), vertigo of central origin, vestibular neuritis or Meniere’s disease, is relatively simple during the acute phase based on the anamnesis and the clinical signs. The life-long prevalence of dizziness in the general population is about 30%, the vestibular system function worsens with aging ( 1), and one subject out of three aged 65 or more experiences at least one fall per year ( 2). The vestibular system may be affected by various pathologies causing disabling symptoms such as vertigo, nausea, postural instability, and falls. In conclusion, the Italian versions of DHI, SVQ, and ABC are reliable and valid questionnaires for assessing the impact of dizziness on the quality of life of Italian patients with peripheral or central vestibular deficit. Correlations with clinical variables suggested that they can be used as a complementary tool for the assessment of vestibular symptoms. Validity was confirmed by correlation test between questionnaire scores. Cronbach’s coefficient alpha, the homogeneity index, and test–retest reproducibility, confirmed reliability of the Italian version of the three questionnaires. We translated and validated the reliability and validity of the DHI, the Situational Vertigo Questionnaire (SVQ), and the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) in 316 Italian patients complaining of dizziness due either to a peripheral or to a central vestibular deficit, or in whom vestibular signs were undetectable by means of instrumental testing or clinical evaluation. The literature provides many questionnaires to assess the outcome of rehabilitation programs for disequilibrium, but only for the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is an Italian translation available, validated on a small group of patients suffering from a peripheral acute vertigo. Neurophysiological measurements of the vestibular function for diagnosis and follow-up evaluations provide an objective assessment, which, unfortunately, does not necessarily correlate with the patients’ self-feeling. 6Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.5Department of Otology and Skull Base, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy.4Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Paediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. ![]() 3ENT Unit, Policlinico San Matteo Fondazione (IRCCS), Pavia, Italy.Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy 2Laboratory of Neuro-otology and Neuro-ophthalmology, C.1Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.Maria Cristina Monti 1 and Maurizio Versino 2,6 ![]()
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