An air caloric test using the thermoelectric air stimulator was performed on 150 patients who complained of vertigo and dizziness, and suffered from chronic otitis media, Bell's palsy, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, central vestibular disturbonce, etc.
The former criteria to the alternate hot and cold caloric test was applied for this air caloric test.
In 9 patients out of 23 with chronic otitis media, abnormal findings of CP, DP, combined, vestibular hypofunction and afunction were observed. Peripheral vestibular disturbance was observed in a high percentage in cases of chronic otitis media.
In 8 patients out of 21 with an ear drum defect, inverted caloric nystagmus was observed. This nystagmus was easily observed at 50°C air stimulus, and in only one case was this inverted nystagmus seen at 24°C and 50°C.
We conclude from these findings that this test can be used routinely, but caution should be exercised in the case of an ear drum defect.