Smartphone app could bring balance testing to your pocket
NCT ID NCT06856746
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tested whether a smartphone app can accurately measure gaze stability and the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in adults with and without balance disorders. 35 participants performed standard balance tests using both a smartphone app and a commercial computer system. The goal is to see if the app can be a low-cost, accessible alternative for diagnosing vestibular dysfunction, especially in resource-limited settings.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this smartphone app could provide a low-cost, accessible way to diagnose balance disorders, especially in areas without specialized equipment.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with only 35 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The app's accuracy needs much more testing before it can be used in clinics.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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35 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2025
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
A convenience sample of healthy volunteers employed by or affiliated with the University of Virginia; a convenience sample established patients of the University of Virginia health system who meet study criteria to be subjects in unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction (UVD) group
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults 18 years or older * Able to provide informed consent * Normal or corrected-to-normal vision (e.g., with glasses or contact lenses) * Able to sit upright and follow instructions for the duration of the test (\~2-3 hours) * No known contraindications to head movement (e.g., musculoskeletal or neurological conditions that prevent safe head rotation) * For vestibular dysfunction group: Participants must have a diagnosed vestibular disorder (e.g., vestibular hypofunction, vestibular neuritis, Meniere's disease, labyrinthitis, vestibular migraine, or post-concussive dizziness) * For control group: Participants must be free from diagnosed vestibular disorders and report no history of balance issues, dizziness, or vertigo Exclusion Criteria: * Severe visual impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses * Cognitive impairment or neurological conditions that could interfere with following instructions (e.g., moderate to severe dementia, uncontrolled seizures, severe traumatic brain injury) * Severe musculoskeletal or orthopedic conditions affecting the neck or cervical spine that prevent safe head movement (e.g., cervical fusion, severe arthritis, neck instability) * Acute illness or infection at the time of testing (e.g., flu, COVID-19, severe sinus infection that may impact vestibular function) * Recent vestibular or neurological surgery (\<6 months prior to study participation) * Severe hearing loss that prevents understanding spoken instructions * History of stroke or progressive neurological disorders affecting balance or gaze stability (e.g., Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS) * Use of vestibular suppressants (e.g., meclizine, diazepam, scopolamine) within 24 hours of testing
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Viginia
Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903, United States
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