PP1507 - Comparison of UCF Test Results With and Without Two-Way Communication During the Chair Rotation

The purpose of the study is to compare the UCF test results with and without two-way communication during chair rotation. Typically-hearing participants with no history of vestibular impairment were randomly assigned into two groups: (1) typical intercom-assisted communication during UCF; and (2) no intercom communication unless absolutely necessary to ensure participant safety. The number of SVV data that could be collected in 60 seconds, SVV angle mean and standard deviation, and emotional responses to testing were compared between the two groups. The results may have implications for testing deaf individuals who may not be able to communicate in vision-denied conditions.

Summary:

Rationale/Purpose: The purpose of the study is to compare the UCF test results with and without two-way communication during chair rotation. Our goal is to simulate a deaf person’s experiences when they are unable to receive communication from the examiners during the rotatory chair testing. If the two groups do not show significantly different results,  this non-significance will support a larger study with a sample size that provides sufficient power.

Deaf individuals tend to have a higher chance of having balance difficulties. Even though the UCF test is an important test for balance testing, we have not been able to use it on deaf individuals who are unable to utilize auditory-only instructions in a vision-denied rotatory chair test booth. This project will address the significant need to perform UCF vestibular tests in deaf adults. If we can show the applicability of UCF tests without two-way communication, we might apply them to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals who cannot communicate via two-way communication in the vision-denied darkened booth.

Method: Typically-hearing participants with no history of vestibular impairment, randomly assigned into two groups, underwent static visual vertical (SVV) under UCF. The number of repositioning of SVV angles that could be collected in 60 seconds, SVV angle mean and standard deviation and emotional responses to testing were compared between the two groups. 

Results: The data collection has started. We are on track to complete testing 30 participants by February 1, 2023. Data has not been analyzed; however, so far it appears that the emotional responses in the survey outcomes revealed greater perception of anxiety, discomfort, fear, and nausea in the absence of two-way communication than if the tester is speaking to the participants during the chair rotation.We also observed that the amount of the SVV angle data was more in the group communicated with verbal communication than without two-way communication. 

Importance of the work: We anticipate that the study results will provide future directions in supporting the development of utricular function assessment for deaf individuals. If we do not find any significant difference in the outcomes between the two groups, this non-significance will support a larger study with a sample size that provides sufficient power. We may also pilot UCF testing on deaf individuals. If we can find the feasibility of the UCF tests on deaf individuals, we may conclude that the UCF and oVEMP tests can be complementary tests to investigate utricular function in deaf individuals. On the other hand, if we observe a significant difference between the two groups, it may indicate that the UCF tests are  not feasible for deaf individuals. Hence, there might be a need to explore alternative approaches to evaluating utricular function. 

If we do not observe a difference in the emotional response outcomes between the two groups but see a significant difference in UCF test results,  we might develop communication strategies to clarify the procedures to participants to increase their test performances. If the opposite situation occurs, we might want to develop strategies to decrease participants' distress and increase their comfort and safety during the UCF tests.