DIZZINESS HANDICAP INVENTORY CORRELATES OF COMPUTERIZED DYNAMIC POSTUROGRAPHY

To assess the handicapping effect of dizziness related to posture and balance, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Computerized Dynam ic Posturography (CDP) were used to assess 101 consecutive patients re ferred for neurotologic evaluation of dizziness. Most patients, regard less of diagnosis, related some level of preexisting handicap, most of ten in the DHI Physical subscale. Generally, females and patients with bilateral lesions scored higher in all DHI subscales. No clinically u seful correlations emerged between DHI and CDP testing, although DHI s cores were marginally higher for patients failing CDP conditions. Func tional balance ability could not be correlated with patient handicap, but a literature review suggests that the desynchrony between dizzines s signs and symptoms may be related to underlying patient anxiety and differences in coping strategies.