Abstract
The number of patients suffering from vertigo has greatly increased nowadays, so it is significant to evaluate the methods of examining the equilibrium of a body. The authors described the latest methods and discussed the effectiveness of them not only in view of the authors' studies but also in view of many criticisms on them of other researchers.
According to the remarkable progress of ENG, vertigo can easily be analyzed. But still the problems of artefact and inpracticability of recording rotational eye movement remain unsolved in this method. At this point high value is set on vector-electronystagmography which is able to record eye movement dualistically. And the practical use has been examined of DC amplifier instead of AC amplifier hitherto used.
Spontaneous and positional nystagmus play an important role in differential diagnosis whether it is central nervous disorder or peripheral one. Since Hallpike et al. introduced the conceptions of DP and CP, it has been able to estimate the vestibular response quantitatively and the examination of vestibular response has become more valuable. Some investigators said that caloric test can not have much diagnostic value compared with spontaneous and positional nystagmus. CP (canal paresis) is considered to show the difference between left and right vestibular functions, but there are many different opinions about DP (directional preponderance).
If the examination of optokinetic nystagmus was performed simultaneously with vestibular nystagmus, much diagnostic value would be gained. Ohm's rotating method with acceleration is convenient to see the patterns of nystagmus. Pathological signs in optokinetic nystagmus usually reveal the disorder of central nervous system.
The elect posture test, the Mann's test, the goniometer test, the past pointing and standing test can be easily applied for clinical purposes.
In addition to the examinations of vestibular function, a hearing test and neurological and internal examinations should be simultaneously performed.
The following are effective examinations arranged in order of value.
1) spontaneous and positional nystagmus
2) optokinetic nystagmus
3) CP in the vestibular nystagmus
4) DP in the vestibular nystagmus
