Evidence for a Test of Dynamic Otolith Function Considered in Relation to Responses from a Patient with Idiopathic Progressive Vestibular Degeneration

Abstract

A patient is described who possessed residual otolith function, but whose loss of canal function was complete for the horizontal and nearly complete for the vertical canals. a clear (but abnormal) nystagmus response was elicited during rotation about an Earth-horizontal axis, confirming the conclusion, based on animal experiments, that this response depends upon the otolith system. This test appsars to measure dynamic otolith function and therefore provides a useful supplement to other vestibular tests.