抄録
In a previous report the anthor 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°, 50ml, 20seconds) in the same subjects.
A difference in interaural response to the air caloric test with continous thermal change was noted in nine of the 19 patients (47.4%), greater than with the water caloric test, five of 19 (26.3 %).
The detectability of vestibular disorders with the air caloric test with continuous thermal change (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 caloric test with continuous thermal change seems to estimate vestibular function more precisely, because stimulation by this method is too weak to cause vestibular recruitment.
