Electronystagmography outside the hospital using a pocket-sized electrocardiograph

It is the desire of the neurotologic clinician to record routinely the nystagmus of patients with vestibular disorders but it is troublesome to have it done frequently. We tried to have patients record their own nystagmus using a portable electrocardiograph. It is pocket-sized and can be operated easily at any time and any place by laymen and often provides beneficial information. When we performed the caloric test on nine patients, we recorded the nystagmus with an ordinary electronystagmograph and with this equipment simultaneously. It has been recognized that the records with a portable electrocardiograph bear close resemblance to the records obtained with an ordinary electronystagmograph. According to the experience in twenty cases of dizzy patients using this recording system, it was concluded that the equipment is useful not only for the diagnosis of dizzy patients, but also for evaluating the effect of drugs and for recommending changes in the mode of living for some patients.