Idiopathic Progressive Vestibular Degeneration in a Young Man: Loss of Vestibular Servation Not the Basis for Detection,
Abstract
This report presents the case of a young man, T1, who experienced episodes of dizziness and demonstrated the rare combination of bilateral loss of nonacoustic function with retention of normal hearing. Persistent dizzy spells first appeared in childhood and were usually mild, but, on rare occasions, he was handicapped by brief severe attacks of vertigo. T1 was nearly 26 years of age before these episodes were shown to be of vestibular origin; yet, during the preceding years he never complained of symptoms attributable to loss of function, as distinct from perturbed vestibular function. At that time residual function was substantial in the otolith organs but minimal and nil in the vertical and horizontal canals, respectively. When last seen at age 29, even otolith function was lost; this was associated with the gradual disappearance of dizzy spells. The diagnosis, idiopathic progressive vestibular degeneration, was made by exclusion. The notable conclusion to be drawn from this patient was not the fact that he had dizzy spells of vestibular origin, but the fact that loss of vestibular function per se was not incompatible with leading a life regarded by himself, his family, and friends as normal. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 02, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0722317
Entities
People
- Alfred R. Fregly
- Ashton Graybiel
- Curtis R. Smith
- Earl F. Miller Ii.
- Fred E. Guedry Jr.
Organizations
- Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory