Monothermal Caloric Test: Comparison of Dizziness Sensation and Nystagmus Parameters according to Age Groups

Shin, Sang Seung; Cha, Chang Il; Jin, Young Wan; Byun, Jae Yong; Lee, Dong Yeup; Hong, Nam Pyo

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: here have been some studies on the influence of age on the results of vestibular function tests with conflicting results. In influence of age on the results of caloric test, we investigated the sensation of dizziness during caloric test by drawing a correlation between the direction of rotatory sensation and the direction of nystagmus.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We performed monothermal caloric test on 44 healthy adults and divided them into six age groups ranging from 16 and 67.
RESULTS
During the test with eyes-closed, 80.23% of patients reported a sensation of self-rotation. Of those, 55.81% expressed the direction of rotation to be the same as that of the fast component of nystagmus, whereas 24.42% expressed the direction to be the same as that of the slow component of nystagmus. During caloric test with eyes-open in light, 59.30% reported a sensation that their surroundings rotated around them. Of those, 43.02% expressed the direction of rotatory sensation to be the same as that of the fast component of nystagmus, whereas 16.28% expressed the direction to be the same as that of the slow component of nystagmus. During caloric test with eyes-closed, most of the subjects felt themselves rotating, whereas most of the subjects felt the outside world were rotating in tests with eyes-open in the light.
CONCLUSION
Nystagmus parameters (latency, duration, SPEV at eyes-open and at eyes-closed, visual suppression) did not result in significant differences among different age groups: therefore, we conclude that age doesn't influence the results of caloric tests.