NCT07368140Not yet recruiting
Exploring Mild Electrical Vestibular Stimulation as a New Treatment for Dizziness and Migraine Symptoms
Electrical Vestibular Stimulation as a Novel Neuromodulation Therapy for Vestibular Migraine: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 26 Jan 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
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.
- Status (registry)
- Not yet recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 50 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 17 Nov 2025
- Start date
- 1 Feb 2026
- Primary completion date
- 31 Dec 2028
- Lead sponsor
- University of Calgary
- Diseases
- Migraine
- NCT number
- NCT07368140
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 50
- From 1 Feb 2026 to the primary completion date, 31 Dec 2028
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Presence of implanted electronic medical devices, such as pacemakers or cochlear implants.
- 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.
Other illness
- 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.
- Current medical, psychiatric, or neurological condition (other than VM) that could interfere with participation.
Other
- Pregnancy or plans to become pregnant during study period.
- Cognitive or language impairments that preclude understanding of instructions or valid completion of outcome measures.
Who the study is looking for
- 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.
Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Calgary | Canada | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.