Carren Sui Lin Teh, Erica Anak Gima, Hani Binti Mamat, Meng Hon Lye, Sobani Bin Din, Narayanan PrepageranIndian Journal of Otology 2021 27(1):47-50
Context: The Fukuda stepping test (FST) is used to assess the labyrinthine function via the vestibulospinal reflex. The test is meant to be conducted in a quiet room, but in a busy clinic setting, it is often performed in the clinic itself, and individuals are exposed to environmental sounds. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of environmental sounds and the effects of fixed directional sound on the outcome of FST. Settings and Design: This is an observational study. Subjects and Methods: Thirty healthy participants performed the FST in the otorhinolaryngology clinic, in a sound-treated room, and then in a sound-treated room with the presence of a fixed directional sound where the angle of rotation, angle of displacement, and distance of displacement were compared. Statistical Analysis Used: Independent t-test and Chi-squared test were used for statistical analysis. Results: There was no statistical difference in the angle of rotation and angle of displacement in all three settings. Although the mean distance of displacement was above 50 cm in all three settings, there was a significant reduction between clinic versus sound-treated room (P = 0.016) and clinic versus room with sound-treated directional sound (P = 0.002). Fixed directional sound had no significant influence on the direction of rotation in all the participants. Conclusions: Performing FST in the standard clinic will not affect the results. Concurrently, we suggest omitting measurement of the distance of displacement in FST as it is not reproducible in our normal sample and is highly susceptible to auditory cues but to focus on the angle of rotation.
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