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Article
March 1959

The Routine Use of the Minimal Caloric Test as an Office Procedure: Report of Experiences with One Hundred Patients

Author Affiliations

Philadelphia
Vestibular Clinic, Department of Otorhinology, Temple University Medical Center.

AMA Arch Otolaryngol. 1959;69(3):303-306. doi:10.1001/archotol.1959.00730030311006
Abstract

An office test of labyrinthine function is not a quantitative test, but rather a qualitative one. The method to be described herein has several advantages, especially its simplicity and ease of operation. The technique to be described is not original, but has minor differences from other methods. The minimal caloric test has been reported upon by Veits (as quoted by Arslan2), Török,9 and the University of Chicago Otolaryngology Department.

The technique of the examination is as follows: First the Frenzel spectacles are applied over the patient's eyes. The spectacles have 20+ D. lenses, which magnify the eyes so that any movement can be easily seen. The patient is examined for spontaneous nystagmus. The patient is asked to look to the right and then to the left; this evokes less fixation nystagmus than when the patient is asked to look sideways at your finger. Then 5 cc. of tap

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