title: Caloric test as a predictor tool of postural control in CI users.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Balance was improved at 365 days after CI in all patients. Caloric test findings were important determinants of balance outcomes over a year after CI. Pre-operative vestibular assessment findings should be documented because postural recovery over time depends on this information.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To verify the importance of the caloric test as a pre-operative predictor tool of postural control after CI surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study made with 24 post-lingual deafness patients who underwent unilateral CI surgery. Vestibular assessments: questionnaire assessing vertigo, caloric tests, rotary chair (RC) testing, and computerized dynamic posturography (CDP), were sequentially performed for all patients before and 60, 120, 180, and 365 days after CI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients (54.2%) reported dizziness before CI. At the end of the study, dizziness remained unchanged in one (7.7%) patient, ameliorated in 11 (84.6%), and worsened in one (7.7%). Baseline caloric tests identified 29.2% patients with normal reflexes, 33.3% with unilateral areflexia or hyporeflexia, 12.5% with bilateral hyporeflexia, and 25% with bilateral vestibular loss (BVL). Most patients exhibited objective improvements in postural stability. At 365 days, the CDP condition (particularly C5) and CS were higher for caloric tests responders at baseline than for those with BVL at baseline.
authors: ENT Department, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors: Patricia A
authors: PA
authors: Abramides
authors: Roseli S M
authors: RS
authors: Bittar
authors: Robinson K
authors: RK
authors: Tsuji
authors: Ricardo F
authors: RF
authors: Bento
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002150:Caloric Tests; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D004244:Dizziness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: caloric test; cochlear implant; computerized dynamic posturography; post-lingual deafness; rotary chair; vertigo; vestibular dysfunction