Abstract
To study the value of the writing test as a clinical evaluation of vestibular function the authors have conducted an investigation on 62 cases of the labyrinthopathy and 23 normal cases, comparing with past-pointing and stepping test. And the caloric test were also performed on all cases.
The writing test was positive in 64.5% of 62 patients, the stepping test in 77.4% and the pastpointing test in 25.8%.
As the normal threshold of these tests the following standard were used. writing test 10- inclination stepping test 30- deviation in 50 stepping past-pointing 5cm
The inclination in the writing test was mostly found to the side of the slow phase in the caloric test, although several cases resulted in negative finding and two cases revealed contra lateral inclination.
These paradoxical reaction were found also in the stepping and the past-pointing test, but not in the rotatory test.
There was found no consistency in these static tests of vestibular function. As a conclusion the authors emphasize that the volantary muscle reflex mechanism of the vestibular labyrinth is highly complicated and in inconsistency of the reaction due to constitutional differrences must be considered in evaluation of these tests.
