title: Comparison of assessment of caloric nystagmus by observation of duration and by electronystagmographic measurement of slow-phase velocity.
abstract: The 'duration' of induced nystagmus was the first parameter used to quantify vestibular function during caloric testing. However, later work suggested that there was a poor correlation between this measure and the physiological events occurring during caloric testing. This, coupled with the development of electronystagmography and the value of a permanent record of the caloric responses, led to the widespread use of the 'slow-phase velocity' measurement of induced nystagmus, as the most commonly used parameter for assessment of the caloric test. Despite a wealth of literature, the 'best' parameter for measuring vestibular function using the caloric test remains undefined and the duration and slow-phase velocity parameters appear to provide different information. The strengths and shortcomings of these two parameters and their relative values are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laryngology and Otology, London.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luxon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002150:Caloric Tests / Q000379:methods*; D004584:Electronystagmography; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009760:Nystagmus, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D013997:Time Factors; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000502:physiology*