Paper Contents
Abstract
Abstract: Background: Labyrinthitis is a peripheral vestibular disorder characterized by acute onset of vertigo, imbalance, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The functional impact of labyrinthitis on daily living and quality of life can be substantial. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is a validated, self-administered questionnaire designed to quantify the handicapping effects of dizziness on physical, emotional, and functional domains. This study aims to evaluate the utility of the DHI in measuring the severity and progression of dizziness-related handicap in patients diagnosed with labyrinthitis over a 3-month follow-up period. Methods: A total of 50 patients diagnosed with labyrinthitis were included in the study. Each patient was assessed using the DHI at three time points: before treatment, at one month, and at three months post-treatment. The DHI scores were statistically analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA to determine the change in handicap over time and to assess the effectiveness of medical and vestibular rehabilitation interventions. Results: The mean baseline DHI score was 58.2 ± 12.4, which significantly decreased to 34.5 ± 10.6 at one month and further reduced to 25.8 ± 9.3 at three months (p < 0.001). Improvements were significant in all three subdomains of DHI: physical, emotional, and functional. These findings indicate that targeted medical management and vestibular rehabilitation significantly improve the perceived handicap associated with dizziness in labyrinthitis. Conclusion: The DHI is a reliable and sensitive tool to evaluate and monitor functional recovery in patients with labyrinthitis. Early identification and follow-up using DHI can guide clinicians in tailoring rehabilitation strategies and tracking patient progress effectively. Keywords: Labyrinthitis, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Vestibular dysfunction, Vertigo, Peripheral vestibular disorder, Vestibular rehabilitation, Quality of life, Functional assessment, Hearing and balance disorders, Acute vestibulopathy,Vestibular symptoms, DHI scoring, Patient-reported outcomes, Audiovestibular evaluation, Inner ear infection
Copyright
Copyright © 2026 Dr Arun P T, Dr Sonia Narang, Shipra , Ravi Shankar kumar . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
