Introduction: Dizziness is one of the most common symptoms of vestibular dysfunction. Gaze stability exercises and Brandt Daroff exercises are two most commonly used vestibular rehabilitation approaches used for vestibular dysfunction. Vestibular dysfunction is common in hearing impaired children mainly, the reason being that hearing and vestibular impulses are both sent via the vestibule-cochlear nerve. This study mainly compares the efficacy of gaze stability exercises and Brandt- Daroff exercises for dizziness in hearing impaired children with vestibular dysfunction. Objectives: 1. To study the effect of Gaze Stability exercises on dizziness in hearing impaired children with vestibular dysfunction 2. To study the effect of Brandt- Daroff exercises on dizziness in hearing impaired children with vestibular dysfunction 3. To compare the effect of gaze stability exercises and Brandt – Daroff exercises on dizziness in hearing impaired children with vestibular dysfunction. Methodology: Thirty one hearing impaired children between the ages of 10 to 17 with positive symptoms of vestibular dysfunction in any two tests out of the following four tests - Dix Hall Pike maneuver, Fukuda Step test, Roll’s test and Sharpened Romberg’s test were selected. Baseline evaluation for dizziness was done using Motion Sensitivity Quotient. The values obtained before and after intervention were recorded. Children were divided into two groups, Group A received Gaze Stability exercises and the Group B received Brandt- Daroff exercises. The duration for treatment for both groups was 10 days. Results: There was significant improvement (p<0.001) in dizziness for Motion Sensitivity Quotient in both the groups. Both groups showed improvement in dizziness. However, the group which received Gaze Stability exercises showed more improvement than the Brandt- Daroff exercise group for dizziness. Conclusion: The results of this study conclude that Gaze Stability exercises and Brandt- Daroff exercises are effective in treating vestibular dysfunction in hearing impaired children and helps improve dizziness. Gaze Stability exercises clinically showed a better outcome than Brandt- Daroff exercises for dizziness.
