Disability in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with posterior semicircular canal involvement

The aim of this work is to analyze the vestibular function and level of disability in two populations of patients with positional vertigo but with different results in the Dix-Hallpike test. 114 patients were assessed. In 65 the Dix-Hallpike test was positive (DH+) and in 49 negative (DH). The caloric test was performed as well as the assessment of disability with the pertinent questionnaires for vestibular disability. Patients in the DH+ group showed a higher level of disability in the physical subscale of the DHI and a higher perception of a deteriorated quality of life. Patients in the DH- group showed a more severe disability in the emotional subscale of the DHI. Once the phenomenon of nystagmus fatigability is ruled out, patients with positional vertigo and DH- must not be considered a minor form of positional vertigo.