Sensory organization test principally reflects utricular function

Conclusion: Our study showed that sensory organization test (SOT) could principally reflect utricular function, and our cut-score of VEST ratio (the indicator of inputs from the vestibular system in balance performance) in SOT could help to screen patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction in non-fallers.

Objectives: We aimed to know SOT reflects the function of which vestibular end organs and to assess the possibility of screening patients with peripheral vestibular dysfunction in non-fall population by means of SOT.

Methods: A total of 75 patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction underwent SOT, ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP), cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) and caloric tests.

Results: Regression model indicated that oVEMP, as an independent variable, exerted the greatest influence on VEST ratio, followed by age and cVEMP. There were no significant differences in VEST ratio among groups with different extents of peripheral vestibular involvement (p > .05). VEST ratio in the vestibular impairment groups was significantly lower than in the control group and significantly higher than in fall group (p < .01). VEST ratio in group with normal oVEMP was significantly higher than in group with abnormal oVEMP (p = .013). The cut-score between populations with functional and dysfunctional vestibule was 0.649.