Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of vestibular dysfunction in the Malaysian elderly and its association with presbycusis, age and other associated risk factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in a tertiary otorhinolaryngology department and the community. Adults aged 60 years and above who attended the ORL CLINIC with or without presbycusis were invited to participate. The main outcome measures, including the Malay Version Vertigo Symptoms Scale, pure tone audiometry and vestibular assessment, were obtained using a Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT).

Results: The prevalence of vestibular dysfunction with presbycusis in the study population of 135 participants was 46.7 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 24.0 to 36.2 per cent). The median age was 68 years (range, 60–86 years).   The A chi-square test of independence showed that there was significant association between Presbycusis and Tinnitus, X² (1, N = 135) = 97.37, p < .001. A chi-square test of independence was performed to examine the relation between presbycusis and dizziness. The relation between these variables was significant, X² (2, N = 135) = 28.42, p < .001. A chi-square test of independence showed that there was no significant association between presbycusis and VHIT, X² (1, N = 135) = .01, p = .938.

Conclusion: Vestibular dysfunction is independently associated with ageing and presbycusis. More research investigating the advantages of additional screening for vestibular dysfunction in older presbycusis patients is needed.