Caloric stimulation

Alternative names:

caloric test

What the risks are:

Excessive water pressure can injure a previously damaged eardrum, but this rarely occurs, since the amount of water is measured. Caloric stimulation should not be performed if the eardrum is perforated because of the risk of causing ear infection.

Special considerations:

Caloric stimulation is approximately 80% accurate in differentiating nerve damage as a cause of vertigo. Other tests may be required to confirm the diagnosis.