Air caloric test with continuous thermal change in patients with vestibular disorders

In a previous report (1) the author described a new air caloric test with continuous thermal change. In this study, 19 patients with vestibular disorders were examined with this technique, and the results were compared with the results of the water caloric test (30 degrees C, 50 ml, 20 s) in the same subjects. A difference in interaural response to the air caloric test was noted in 9 of the 19 patients (47.4%), greater than with the water caloric test, 5 of 19 (26.3%). The detectability of vestibular disorders with the air caloric test (28 of 38 ears; 73.7%) was significantly higher than that with the water caloric test (8 of 38 ears; 21.1%) (p < 0.01). The air test appeared to estimate vestibular function more precisely, as stimulation by this method is too weak to cause vestibular recruitment.