Caloric stimulation
Alternative names:
caloric test
Normal values:
Nystagmus should occur after instillation of 1 teaspoon of cold or hot water into the ear canal.
What abnormal results mean:
If nystagmus does not occur until after 2 or more teaspoons of water are instilled, there may be some damage to the nerve of the inner ear. If nystagmus does not occur even after 8 teaspoons of water are instilled, it may be assumed that there is permanent damage to the nerve.
Any disease or injury that damages the acoustic nerve can cause vertigo. This may include congenital disorders; trauma; rubella; vascular (blood vessel) disorders with hemorrhage (bleeding), thrombosis (clots), or atherosclerosis of the blood supply of the ear; cholesteatoma and other ear tumors; some poisons; and ototoxic (toxic to the ear nerves) medications including aminoglycoside antibiotics, some antimalarial drugs, loop diuretics, and salicylates.
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
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