Exploring Mild Electrical Vestibular Stimulation as a New Treatment for Dizziness and Migraine Sy… (NCT07368140) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Exploring Mild Electrical Vestibular Stimulation as a New Treatment for Dizziness and Migraine Symptoms
Canada50 participantsStarted 2026-02-01
Plain-language summary
Vestibular migraine is a common cause of repeated dizziness, imbalance, and headaches that affects about three percent of Canadians. Many people do not find relief from current medications, leaving them with long term problems in balance and daily function. This study will test a new, non drug based treatment called electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS). EVS delivers gentle, safe electrical signals behind the ears to activate the brain's vestibular pathways.
Fifty adults with vestibular migraine will take part. Half will receive real stimulation, and half will receive a sham (placebo) treatment. Each participant will attend six sessions over two weeks. Around the treatment period, they will record dizziness and migraine symptoms in a daily diary and complete questionnaires and balance tests using motion sensors.
The main goal is to determine whether EVS can be delivered safely and comfortably in adults with vestibular migraine and whether participants can complete the sessions and assessments as planned. Results will also show whether symptoms or balance improve, providing essential information to design a larger clinical trial and, ultimately, develop new, accessible treatments for dizziness and migraine.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Clinical diagnosis of VM, according to the ICHD-3 and Barany Society criteria.
* Experienced at least one vestibular migraine episode in the previous month.
* Ability to provide informed consent and comply with study requirements.
* Willingness to attend six EVS sessions over a two-week period and complete all required testing and diaries.
* Physical ability to stand unassisted for at least one minute and walk 25 feet without assistance.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Diagnosis of other vestibular disorders (e.g. benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis) that may confound results.
* History of seizure disorder, epilepsy, or unexplained loss of consciousness.
* Presence of implanted electronic medical devices, such as pacemakers or cochlear implants.
* Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant during study period.
* Use of vestibular suppressant or migraine prophylactic medications that cannot be paused or maintained at a stable dose during the two-week EVS intervention period. Acute use of rescue medications during a severe attack is permitted, however, participants who initiate new medication or undergo dose changes during the intervention window will be excluded from final analysis.
* Current medical, psychiatric, or neurological condition (other than VM) that could interfere with participation.
* Cognitive or language impairments that preclude understanding of instructions or valid completion of outcome measures.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in Vestibular Migraine Patient Assessment Tool and Handicap Inventory (VM PATHI) score
Timeframe: Baseline (pre intervention) to one month after completion of the two week EVS/sham intervention.
2
Session Adherence (feasibility of delivering six Stim/Sham sessions)
Timeframe: From first stimulation session to end of the two week intervention period
3
Diary completion rate
Timeframe: 30 days prior to first stimulation session through 30 days after the final stimulation session (total 60 days)
4
EVS related adverse events (safety and tolerability)
Timeframe: From baseline visit through one month post intervention follow up.