From the Research
Prognosis of Vestibular Neuritis
The prognosis of Vestibular Neuritis is generally favorable, with most patients recovering well even without treatment 1. However, the use of corticosteroids has been shown to accelerate the recovery of vestibular function, particularly when administered within 24 hours of symptom onset 2.
Factors Affecting Prognosis
Several factors can influence the prognosis of Vestibular Neuritis, including:
- Timing of treatment: Early treatment with corticosteroids, ideally within 24 hours of symptom onset, may lead to better outcomes 2
- Treatment approach: Corticosteroids and vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) have been shown to be equally effective in patients with Vestibular Neuritis, with no significant difference in long-term prognosis 3
- Individual patient characteristics: Patients with significant vascular risk factors may require evaluation for possible stroke, and those with persistent instability or anxiety may benefit from rehabilitative vestibular programs 4, 1
Recovery Outcomes
Studies have reported varying recovery outcomes for patients with Vestibular Neuritis, including:
- Complete caloric recovery at one month: significantly improved with corticosteroid treatment compared to placebo 5
- Complete caloric recovery at 12 months: no significant difference between corticosteroid treatment and placebo 5
- Symptomatic recovery of vestibular function: no significant difference between corticosteroid treatment and placebo 5
Treatment Considerations
Treatment considerations for Vestibular Neuritis include:
- Corticosteroids: may accelerate recovery of vestibular function, particularly when administered early 3, 2
- Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT): may be equally effective as corticosteroids in promoting recovery 3
- Antiemetics and vestibular suppressants: may be useful in the acute phase, but should be withdrawn as soon as possible to promote central vestibular compensation 1