Study overview
The Shepherd Center is assisting Dr. Colin R. Grove at Emory in recruiting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with dizziness for the DIIVA-MS study.
Many people with MS experience problems using sensory information from the inner ear balance system to stabilize their vision. Failure of the vision stabilizing reflex is associated with dizziness, blurry or bouncing vision, imbalance, and/or falls. The Emory team has developed a technology that helps to change the functioning of the vision stabilizing reflex. This technology has been shown to work in healthy people and those with inner ear balance system problems. This study aims to determine whether individuals with MS benefit from this technology for vision stabilization exercises and whether daily personalized gaze stabilization training is more effective than intermittent training.
This study includes completing questionnaires about balance and dizziness, as well as tests of balance, walking, vision, and inner ear function. All participants will also perform guided active head movements to stimulate their vision stabilizing reflex at home for 30 minutes per day over a period of six weeks. Nine in-person visits are required for this study. These will be conducted at the Emory Rehabilitation Hospital: 1441 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30322. You will be compensated up to a total of $300 for completing the study and may be reimbursed up to $54 for transportation services for each study visit.
Study eligibility
To be eligible, participants must meet the following criteria:
- 18–89 years old
- Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis
- Fluent in speaking and understanding English
- Experience dizziness, blurry or bouncing vision, imbalance and/or falls
- Does not have strabismus/lazy eye, convergence insufficiency, inter-nuclear ophthalmoplegia, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or an inner ear (vestibular) balance disorder
- No significant worsening of MS symptoms or change in immunotherapy in the past 60 days
- Not seeing a physical therapist for dizziness
- No major orthopedic conditions that limit walking/neck movement
- Not pregnant or planning pregnancy within the next three months
Who to contact for more information
If this sounds like you — or someone you know — we’d love to hear from you! Email [email protected] for details or to see if you qualify.
