An epidemiological survey of vestibular neuronitis was conducted in Japan with questionnaires. From 1988 through 1990 531 patients in 71 hospitals collected. The results were as follows.
1) There was little difference in the number of patients in each of the three years. The incidence of vestibular nouronictis was a little higher in males than in females.
2) The average age at onset was 44 years for males and 46 years for females.
This study has shown the need to discuss the following three points in detail : 1) diagnostic criteria, especially regarding recurrent attacks of vertigo, 2) the advisable diagnostic level of canal paresis, and 3) the advisable length of clinical observation.
A further problem is to unify the diagnostic criteria used in Japan with those used in other countries.