Under moderate evidence, when might therapy be stopped for vestibular hypofunction?

Under moderate evidence, when might therapy be stopped for vestibular hypofunction?

• A. Achieved goals, normal balance, or plateau
• B. After one session
• C. If patient reports no dizziness
• D. If imaging shows no abnormality

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that vestibular rehabilitation for hypofunction is stopped when the patient has reached functional goals or no further meaningful gains are being made. In practice, therapists set specific, meaningful targets (like stable gait, functional balance tasks, or return to daily activities) and track progress with both objective tests and the patient’s reported improvements. If the patient achieves those goals and demonstrates normal or near-normal balance, the therapy can be concluded. Alternatively, if progress stalls despite continuing therapy and an appropriate progression of exercises, continuing beyond a plateau offers little extra benefit, so you stop. Why not rely on other cues? Stopping after a single session isn’t sufficient because one session is unlikely to achieve the needed adaptations or compensations. Dizziness relief alone doesn’t guarantee full functional recovery or balance control in real-world tasks. Imaging findings don’t directly reflect functional recovery or compensation after vestibular loss, so imaging isn’t a reliable stopping criterion. Therefore, the best stopping point is when goals are achieved, balance is normalized, or a plateau in progress is reached.

The key idea is that vestibular rehabilitation for hypofunction is stopped when the patient has reached functional goals or no further meaningful gains are being made. In practice, therapists set specific, meaningful targets (like stable gait, functional balance tasks, or return to daily activities) and track progress with both objective tests and the patient’s reported improvements. If the patient achieves those goals and demonstrates normal or near-normal balance, the therapy can be concluded. Alternatively, if progress stalls despite continuing therapy and an appropriate progression of exercises, continuing beyond a plateau offers little extra benefit, so you stop.

Why not rely on other cues? Stopping after a single session isn’t sufficient because one session is unlikely to achieve the needed adaptations or compensations. Dizziness relief alone doesn’t guarantee full functional recovery or balance control in real-world tasks. Imaging findings don’t directly reflect functional recovery or compensation after vestibular loss, so imaging isn’t a reliable stopping criterion.

Therefore, the best stopping point is when goals are achieved, balance is normalized, or a plateau in progress is reached.