Reliability and Concurrent Validity of Life Space Assessment in Individuals With Vestibular Disorders

Background and Purpose: The Life Space Assessment (LSA) is a self-report measure that allows clinicians to determine how often someone moves around in his or her environment with or without assistance. Presently, there are no reliable and valid measures that capture all 3 aspects of mobility (ie, mobility frequency, distance, and assistance needed) for individuals with vestibular disorders. The purpose of this study was to describe life space and to determine the reliability and concurrent validity of the LSA as a tool to measure mobility and function in individuals with balance and vestibular disorders. Methods: One hundred twenty-eight participants (mean age of 55 +/- 16.7 years) experiencing dizziness or imbalance who were seeking the care of an otoneurologist were recruited. Participants completed the LSA, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Results: The mean LSA score of the sample was 75/120 +/- 30. The LSA demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.91). The LSA was negatively correlated with the DHI total score (rho = -0.326,P< 0.01), DHI physical subscore (rho = -0.229,P= 0.02), DHI functional subscore (rho = -0.406,P< 0.01), and DHI emotional subscore (rho = -0.282,P< 0.01). The LSA was positively correlated with both the physical (rho = 0.422,P< 0.01) and mental (rho = 0.362,P< 0.01) composite scores of the SF-12. Discussion and Conclusions: Similar to the findings in community-dwelling older adults, the LSA demonstrated excellent test-retest and internal consistency in individuals with vestibular disorders. The LSA is a valid and reliable tool for measuring mobility and function in individuals with vestibular disorders.