title: New perspectives in the investigation of disorders of balance.
abstract: It is a common misconception that all disorders of balance can be attributed to derangements of the vestibular system. In fact spatial orientation is dependent upon the proper coordination of a number of sensory inputs and each of these is susceptible to damage by disease or injury. A variety of new tests is described which have as their aim the indentification of balance disorders resulting specifically from derangements of visual processing, proprioception and the neck reflexes. In addition, attention is given to the differential impairment of linear and circular vection and to the possible clinical application of vestibular evoked potentials.
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009760:Nystagmus, Physiologic; D004856:Postural Balance; D011434:Proprioception; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth; D014794:Visual Fields; D014796:Visual Perception