ENG caloric test

[LouPee]

Can anyone explain the outcome for the caloric tests on the ENG Right ear hot - 1st one done thought it was bad Left ear hot - 20 times worse than the right ear Right ear - cold (bear in mind he told me with cold sometimes you don't spin as much) - worse than with warm water (could not recount any football teams beginning with A or B or C or D or... Left ear cold - ahhhh thats better still spinny but nothing like the other could easily count in 4s to 160 Am i right thinking it is my right ear that has the problem? And what is the difference between the hot water and cold water?

[sqad617]

Sorry but your full description of the tests is unhelpful. When you are having the calorics electrodes are placed on your head and connected to an osciloscope or ENG machine or both. The reaction to the hot and cold water is recorded on the oscilloscope and records what is known as nystagmus and this shows up as erratic movements of the needle like sound recordings on an earthquake monitor.

The characterists of the nystagmus is fundamental to the diagnosis. Is nystagmus present, is it absent, does it change with positions of the head, is it fatiguable that is does it go away or does it persist, all these fundamental results will lead to a diagnosis and can only be interpreted by the Audiologist or ENT Surgeon.

You will have a follow up appointment at which time all will be revealed.

[LouPee]

The physician is going to do me a full report. Can i ask what a normal person should experience under the caloric test with both warm and cold water?
IE with warm water should the person spin fast and with cold in the same ear very slow.

[sqad617]

Well you can if you like, but more importantly ask him what the results of the ENG indicated, e.g. normal, Menieres Disease. benign postional vertigo, auditory nerve problem they are just a few for starters.