title: Otolith-ocular testing in human subjects.
abstract: Assessment of the otolith-ocular reflex of human subjects involves linear acceleration and/or changes in the orientation of the head with respect to gravity. Several such stimuli are currently under investigation regarding their applicability to the evaluation of patients with dizziness and balance disorders. Discussed in this paper are off-vertical axis rotation, eccentric rotation, pitch and roll rotation, and linear acceleration. For each of these stimuli, basic principles, normative human data, and patient data are described. Although none of these methods are currently established for clinical use, each of them, especially off-vertical axis rotation and linear acceleration, have the potential for developing into a clinically useful method for assessing otolith function in man.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Eye and Ear Institute of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Furman
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Baloh
mesh_terms: D004585:Electrooculography; D005133:Eye Movements; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D012016:Reference Values; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology