Objective: To examine vestibular disorders in patients with sporadic ataxia (SA).

Background: Ataxias are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the presence of progressive cerebellar ataxia whose initial clinical manifestations include deterioration in balance and motor coordination, as well as ocular disorders.

Methods: 11 patients were evaluated ranging from 35 to 58 years of age and underwent the following procedures: anamnesis, ENT and vestibular evaluations.

Results: Clinically, the patients commonly had symptoms of gait abnormality (81.8%), dysarthria (63.8%) and dysphagia (54.5%). Dizziness was referred in 45.4% of the cases; In vestibular testing, alterations were predominantly evident under caloric testing (54.5%), rotational chair testing (45.5%), testing for gaze nystagmus and optokinetic nystagmus (27.3%) of the cases. The presence of alterations occurred under examination in 73%, with the majority occurring in those with central vestibular dysfunction, 64% of the examinations.

Conclusions: The most evident symptoms were: gait abnormality, dysarthria and dysphagia. Dizziness was referred in 45.4% of the cases. Alterations in vestibular examinations occurred in 73% of patients, mostly in the caloric test, with a predominance of deficient central vestibular dysfunction.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/neurotological-findings-in-sporadic-ataxia/