[Vestibular testing in Ménière's syndrome]

Extensive vestibular examination was done in fifty patients with unilateral Menière's disease in the interval between the attacks of vertigo. Horizontal and vertical eye-movements were recorded by electro-oculography. In 80% of the significant difference was found in the slow phase velocity of the nystagmus due to caloric stimulation between the normal and pathological ear (mean difference 41% +/- 24,2). A spontaneous nystagmus was found with closed eyes in 58% of the patients with a mean value of 2,5 degrees/sec +/- 1,6 and a positional nystagmus in 76% with a mean value of 2,3 degrees/sec +/- 1,5. Also in the silent phase (between the vertigo-attacks) distinct abnormalities can be found in the vestibular examination tests.