The clinical picture and course of vestibular neuronitis (VN) were investigated in 53 cases encountered over the last 8 years and 9 months. Lesions of the vestibular nerve were evaluated by the caloric test and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP); canal paresis (CP) with normal VEMP indicated superior VN, while CP with impaired VEMP indicated both superior and inferior VN. Among the 53 cases of VN evaluated, 37 had superior VN, 13 had superior and inferior VN, and the remaining 3 cases were labeled as undetermined. No case of inferior VN was found in our series. Functional recovery of the vestibular nerve was confirmed in half of the cases in whom the caloric test was repeated around 3 months later. The average duration of gaze nystagmus observed was 11.5 days, and that of positional nystagmus observed using a CCD camera was 6 months. On the other hand, the duration for which gaze nystagmus was observed in 50% of the cases (50% positive period) was 9.5 days, and the corresponding duration for positional nystagmus was 62 days. The difference in the average duration and 50% positive period is discussed.
