Discrimination of peripheral and central vestibular disorders by means of a quantitative statistical method

This paper presents an approach to the prediction of peripheral and central vestibular disorders from a mathematical statistical point of view. An analysis was performed by the quantification method for multi-dimensional qualitative data. The data analysed were from 713 patients with a complaint of dizziness or vertigo who were subjected mainly to neurootological tests on 14 items. The categorical discriminant analysis of peripheral and central vestibular disorders revealed a discriminant success rate of 82%. We used the following five tests in discrimination: optokinetic test (OKN), caloric test, eye-tracking test (ETT), hearing test, and standing test. A system for the screening of patients with vertigo was assessed by use of a microcomputer and is in daily use in our department.