Background: Even for experienced examiners quantitative and objective medicolegal assessment of vestibular vertigo is difficult. Current medicolegal opinions place disproportionate emphasis of subjective symptoms.
Methods: Based on parameters from spontaneous and provoked vestibular nystagmus with Frenzel's glasses, objective criterias for adequate medicolegal assessment of vestibular disorders are presented. Diagrams in tabular form for unilateral and bilateral vestibular dysfunction and benign peripheral positional vertigo allow assessment of reduction in earning capacity.
Conclusions: The widespread use of subjective criteria in the medicolegal evaluation of vestibular complaints should not be accepted. The qualified ENT specialist is able to evaluate vestibular deficits using objective and reproducible methods.