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An evaluation of the test–retest reliability of the functional head impulse test in healthy young adults

  • Otology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim

To determine the test and retest reliability of the functional head impulse test (fHIT) in healthy young adults.

Materials and methods

Thirty-three healthy participants (17 women, 16 men) aged 18–30 years were included in the study. Each participant underwent the fHIT twice, 1 week apart, by the same experienced clinician. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to determine test–retest reliability.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between the results of total percentage of correct answer (CA%) of the fHIT obtained in session 1 and session 2 measurements in the lateral, anterior, and posterior semicircular canals (SCCs) (p > 0.05). ICC values for test–retest reliability were found to range from 0.619 to 0.665 for the three semicircular canals (SCCs).

Conclusion

The test–retest reliability of the fHIT device was moderate. Attention, cognition, and fatigue may be the factors reducing reliability. In the diagnosis, follow-up, and rehabilitation processes of vestibular diseases in clinics, changes in the fHIT CA% can be used to assess vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) functionality.

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Data Availability

Research data are not shared.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

    Gulce Kirazli & Pelin Pistav Akmese

  2. Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gülhane University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey

    Tugba Emekci

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Malatya Turgut Ozal University, Malatya, Turkey

    Feyza Inceoglu

  4. Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

    Nese Celebisoy

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  1. Gulce Kirazli
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  2. Tugba Emekci
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Correspondence to Pelin Pistav Akmese.

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Kirazli, G., Emekci, T., Inceoglu, F. et al. An evaluation of the test–retest reliability of the functional head impulse test in healthy young adults. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 280, 5339–5343 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-08063-0

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