Caloric testing results: not normal.
Well, I had my caloric testing done this week, and the results were a little odd. I first did a hearing test, after which the tester informed me that the results were completely normal — I was happy about that, because I don’t particularly feel like losing my hearing.
I then did a test where I had to watch a red light move back and forth, both vertically and horizontally. I didn’t find it particularly dizziness-inducing, I was more dizzy just having to lie on an incline.
We then did the caloric testing, starting with warm water in the left ear. I had thought before that the caloric testing would be one quick squirt of water, not a continuous jet of water into your ear. The warm water in the left ear made me quite dizzy, which the tester informed me was actually normal.
We then moved onto the right ear, and the heat was actually quite painful. I didn’t really end up feeling dizzy at all after the water was squirted into that ear — which apparently is a sign that something is not right in that ear.
The tester told me that both ears should be about the same — if you feel very dizzy in one ear, you should feel about the same in the other ear. Or if you feel only a little dizzy, you should only feel a little dizzy in the other ear as well. That was definitely not the case for me.
So now that we know something is wrong, I’m hoping the doctor from neurotology can figure out what to do for me. Like I said last time, I don’t really know if there’s a solution, but I’m really hoping that there is, as I find this to be very difficult to deal with day to day. I’ll just keep hoping. 
4 Comments, Comment or Ping
thelight1974
Thats exactly what happened to me, one ear was really dizzy the other not so dizzy, the not so dizzy one is damaged due to a virus. The guy told me about 40%, he also assured me 100% wouldnt be a problem as the brain just learns to balance on what it has. The trouble is the faulty one is sending off signals, this is what makes you dizzy, as you go about your day to day life the brain compensates for this by ignoring these signals until balance is restored, unfortunatley this can take months or years. The way to speed this up is Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy, my doc said should be ok by the end of the year, fingers crossed!
May 27th, 2008
Vertigo Guy
I think I definitely should have went the vestibular rehabilitation therapy route early on — but unfortunately none of the doctors I had at the time suggested it as an option. Rather, they merely suggested that I would get better on my own without rehabilitation.
It’s been just over 3 years for me, and while I’m better than I was, I feel like I plateaued in my recovery around 2 years ago. Things got better to a point, and then never really moved on from there. I’m hoping starting VRT now will be helpful (hopefully it’s not too late!).
I tried to ask the woman doing the testing how damaged she thought the right ear was, but she was very hesitant about giving me specific answers (she said that would have to be up to the doctor to determine). My next appointment is not until the end of July, but I’m hoping to call them today to see if I can get it moved up at all.
May 27th, 2008
thelight1974
You will be glad to know its never to late to start VRT, from what I hear it makes you feel worse at first and is a long road. Good Luck!
May 27th, 2008
Vertigo Guy
Good to know! The doctor also suggested I tried VRT (even though it’s been 3 years) and he said the same thing — that’s it’s never too late. I’ve now managed to move my appointment up to June 4th (due to a very nice receptionist), so I’m going to ask him about it then.
May 28th, 2008
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