Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-7-29
pubmed:abstractText
The head impulse test is a simple clinical test comprising high acceleration head rotation. In the presence of a severe unilateral vestibular weakness the normal vestibulo-ocular reflex is replaced by a misalignment of the eye followed by a series of corrective saccades which are evident to the examiner. Previous reports have shown the high sensitivity of the head impulse test in detecting complete unilateral weakness, but indicate poor sensitivity for mild weaknesses. This prospective, blinded study examined the head impulse test in a general clinical population of balance disorder patients to examine the sensitivity and specificity of the test, and to determine the degree of vestibular weakness that is required before the test becomes positive. One hundred and fifty patients were examined and the head impulse test results were compared to results from bithermal caloric testing. Results show that the overall sensitivity of the head impulse test is 34% with a specificity of 100%. The test does not detect mild or moderate vestibular weaknesses but is very sensitive to the presence of a severe paresis (87.5%). Head impulse testing will not replace caloric testing but is a very useful adjunct to it.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
0307-7772
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
23
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
117-22
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-11-21
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Acceleration, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Adolescent, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Adult, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Aged, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Caloric Tests, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Evaluation Studies as Topic, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Eye Movements, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Female, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Head, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Labyrinth Diseases, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Male, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Middle Aged, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Postural Balance, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Predictive Value of Tests, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Prospective Studies, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Reflex, Abnormal, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Rotation, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Saccades, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Semicircular Canals, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Sensation Disorders, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Sensitivity and Specificity, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Single-Blind Method, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Vestibular Diseases, pubmed-meshheading:9597280-Vestibular Function Tests
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
A clinical evaluation of head impulse testing.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Otolaryngology and Audiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study