Caloric stimulation

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Risks

Results

Caloric stimulation

Alternative Names:

Caloric test

What the risks are:

Excessive water pressure can injure a previously damaged eardrum, but this rarely occurs since the amount of water to be used is measured in advance. Caloric stimulation should not be performed if the eardrum is perforated because of the risk of causing ear infection. Caloric testing should not be performed during an acute vertigo episode as it can make symptoms worse.

Special considerations:

Caloric stimulation is approximately 80% accurate in differentiating nerve damage as a cause of vertigo. Other tests may be required to confirm the diagnosis.

Review Date: 4/11/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin Fung, MD, FRCS(C), Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Head and Neck Oncology and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Western Ontario, Londong, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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