Caloric/Position Testing
- Caloric testing is used to assess and record the function of each labyrinth separately, making it possible to define which side is compromised.
- It allows to diffrentiate between central and peripheral vestibular diseases.
- This test is based on the principle of generating thermal variation within the external auditory canal .
- Testing changes the density of the endolympth and initiates the vestibuloocular reflex, which generates the vestibular nystagmus.
- The nystagmographic response is evaluated and compared with a normal standard.
- Stimulation can be done by water or air at various temperatures.
(Goncalves, 2008)