Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT)

The video head impulse test is an ear-specific test that detects disorders of the vestibulo-ocular reflex and identifies which ear is affected in cases of peripheral vestibular loss.

Patients with a vestibular loss will exhibit a corrective saccadic eye movement (a “catch-up” saccade) either during or after the head impulse and the gain of the head in comparison to the eye will not be equivalent.

The video head impulse test (vHIT) provides quick, clear-cut side of lesion specific assessment of the vestibulo-ocular reflex response to stimuli in the high-frequency range, the natural range of head movements. It is the only test that can assess all six semicircular canals.

The high-frequency stimuli used in vHIT is similar to that used in daily activity, such as when crossing the street or quickly turning to a sound.