Hi All,

Here's interesting new research that explains further why the caloric test does not pick up a deficit in all people who have had VN:

Inferior Vestibular Neuritis: 3 cases with clinical features of acute vestibular neuritis, normal calorics but indications of saccular failure.
BMC Neurol. 2006 Dec 14;6(1):45


vestibular neuritis (VN) is commonly diagnosed by demonstration of unilateral vestibular failure, as unilateral loss of caloric response.


this test reflects the function of the superior part of the vestibular nerve only. Cases of pure inferior nerve neuritis will be lost.


We describe three patients with symptoms suggestive of VN, but normal calorics. All 3 had unilateral loss of vestibular evoked myogenic potential. A slight, asymptomatic position dependent nystagmus, with the pathological ear down, was observed.


CONCLUSIONS: We believe that these patients suffer from pure inferior nerve vestibular neuritis.

Hi All,

Here's interesting new research that explains further why the caloric test does not pick up a deficit in all people who have had VN:

Inferior Vestibular Neuritis: 3 cases with clinical features of acute vestibular neuritis, normal calorics but indications of saccular failure.
BMC Neurol. 2006 Dec 14;6(1):45


vestibular neuritis (VN) is commonly diagnosed by demonstration of unilateral vestibular failure, as unilateral loss of caloric response.


this test reflects the function of the superior part of the vestibular nerve only. Cases of pure inferior nerve neuritis will be lost.


We describe three patients with symptoms suggestive of VN, but normal calorics. All 3 had unilateral loss of vestibular evoked myogenic potential. A slight, asymptomatic position dependent nystagmus, with the pathological ear down, was observed.


CONCLUSIONS: We believe that these patients suffer from pure inferior nerve vestibular neuritis.


Hi Scott

Yep backs up Prof/Dr Hain's(and others) write up--at:

http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/testing/vemp.html

And a more up to date one(same author):

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/testing/vemp.html

Some history on it(and vestibular in general) from:

Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas--Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials---Brandon Isaacson, M.D.--Baylor is one of the best in this area:

http://www.bcm.edu/oto/grand/03_03_05.htm

:cool:

Just for the record..

Is there any important difference between them (inferior nerve & superior one), in terms of symptoms and/or treatment? or this is just something wich refers to a possible undiagnosed VN case?(due to the lack of info got from a caloric test in an inferior nerve case)

Just for the record..

Is there any important difference between them (inferior nerve & superior one), in terms of symptoms and/or treatment? or this is just something wich refers to a possible undiagnosed VN case?(due to the lack of info got from a caloric test in an inferior nerve case)

Hi Stargrave

Would not mean much---unless---your one of the few---who tested---fine---but---still felt---out of wack.

:cool: