A screening version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI-S)

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to develop a screening version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI).

Study design: Three separate prospective investigations are reported that assess: 1) the equivalency of the screening version of DHI (DHI-S) for the DHI; 2) the test-retest reliability of the DHI-S; and 3) whether abnormal performance on balance function testing is associated with greater scores on the DHI-S.

Setting: The investigation was conducted in the Balance Function Laboratory of the Division of Audiology at Henry Ford Hospital, which is a tertiary care setting.

Patients: There were 281 consecutive patients (for investigations 1 and 2) and 45 consecutive patients (for investigation 3) seen for balance function testing.

Interventions: There was a 1-week interval between test and retest administrations of the DHI-S.

Main outcome measures: Comparability of the DHI-S for the DHI and the test-retest reliability of the DHI-S were assessed with a Pearson Product-Moment correlation coefficient. Scores on the DHI-S for patients with and without abnormal balance function tests were assessed with an analysis of variance.

Results: Results showed that scores on the DHI-S had high comparability for the total score on the DHI (r=0.86). The short-term, test-retest reliability for the DHI was high (r=0.95). Abnormal performance on the sensory organization subtest of computerized dynamic posturography was associated with significantly greater scores on the DHI-S.

Conclusions: Results support the contention that DHI-S is a psychometrically robust screening measure of self-perceived dizziness disability-handicap.