CALORIC TESTING

Course overview

CALORIC TESTING IS A USEFUL CLINICAL TOOL THAT CAN ASSESS AND QUANTIFY THE FUNCTIONAL STATUS OF THE INDIVIDUAL VESTIBULAR SYSTEMS. THE TEST UTILIZES THE MECHANICS OF THE VESTIBULAR-OCULAR REFLEX TO TEST FOR A UNILATERAL PERIPHERAL DEFICIT. THE VESTIBULAR-OCULAR REFLEX REQUIRES AN INTACT BRAIN STEM TO FUNCTION, AND ITS PURPOSE IS TO MAINTAIN EYE FIXATION ON A STATIONARY TARGET WHILE THE HEAD IS IN MOTION, THUS KEEPING THE OBJECT OF ATTENTION IN THE CENTER OF THE VISUAL FIELD. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF CALORIC TESTING.