Objective:

To classify self-perceived symptoms as mild, moderate, or severe, and to describe the most affected domain of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) according to sex, type of vestibular disorder, and age at the beginning of the vestibular rehabilitation (VR) program.

Materials and methods:

This is an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study. Subjects aged over 18 years with vestibular deficits who attended the initial interview of a VR program at a physical therapy office in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires between 2011 and 2021 were included. Variables were grouped into primary (self-perception of disability) and secondary (sex, type of vestibular disorder, and age).

Results:

A total of 527 subjects were included. Of them, 45% (n=240) had mild symptoms; 38% (n=202), moderate; and 16% (n=85), severe. The youngest subjects reported moderate symptoms, whereas the rest of the group reported mild symptoms. Women showed higher self-perception of symptoms. Subjects with peripheral vestibular syndromes obtained lower DHI scores.

Conclusion:

Self-perceived symptoms were moderate to severe in 54% of subjects, and the physical and functional domains were the most affected. This relevant information allows us to set clear objectives to reduce symptoms and resulting disabilities, thus improving the quality of life in subjects with vestibular deficits.

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