The variability of fixation suppression of caloric-induced nystagmus

Twelve normal adults were evaluated to determine their capacity to suppress caloric-induced nystagmus by visual fixation. Fixation suppression (FS) was assessed four times during the routine Fitzgerald-Hallpike caloric procedure. The results were characterized by large inter-subject as well as intra-subject variability. It is cautioned that diagnostic categories should not be inferred on the basis of absolute numeric values of FS.