Tests that measure the patient's ability to control his posture generally have failed to yield clinically useful information about vestibular function. The primary reason for this failure is that postural control does not depend on vestibular function when visual and proprioceptive cues are available. To test vestibular function, one should use a procedure that forces the patient to rely on vestibular cues by eliminating cues from these other sensory systems. Such a procedure is described. Vision is eliminated by eye closure, and proprioceptive cues are minimized by rotating the supporting surface to null changes in ankle angle. Data are presented which show that postural responses are complex, but that they appear to conform to the pattern originally observed by Nashner. A method potentially capable of separately evaluating semicircular canal and otolith function is described.

Ankle Joint↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Transtympanic electrocochleography during glycerol dehydration.

Thirteen patients with Meniere's disorder were tested using transtympanic electrocochleography during glycerol dehydration. The most common finding was a decrease in the negative summating potential and this appeared to be a more sensitive indicator of changes occurring in the cochlea than pure tone audiometry and speech discrimination. A pathophysiological explanation for this observation is offered and the possibility of using this decrease in the negative summating potential as a pointer to the prognosis of endolymphatic sac surgery is discussed.

Action Potentials↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acetazolamide in Meniere's disease: evaluation of a new diagnostic test for reversible endolymphatic hydrops.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acetazolamide↗