# Caloric test **URL:** \ **Category:** Medical Tests šŸ”¬\ **Created:** [May 22, 2019, 9:15am UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918 "2019-05-22T09:15:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Carrie](https://mvertigo.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@Carrie](https://mvertigo.org/u/Carrie)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2019, 10:55pm UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/21 "2019-08-13T22:55:48Z")
OK Iā€™m terrified of any test that could worsen my symptoms. So is the caloric test actually useful? If I were to skip it and do all other tests, would missing it affect the final diagnosis? I was diagnosed with MAV eight years ago but due to a worsening of symptoms this past month Iā€™m not sure if Iā€™ve got something additional going on. ---
**Author:** ![Manatee](https://mvertigo.org/user_avatar/mvertigo.org/manatee/32/615_2.png) [@Manatee](https://mvertigo.org/u/Manatee)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 1:03am UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/22 "2019-08-14T01:03:17Z")
Most of the tests are done to see whether the problem is related to the ear. If all of the test results come back ā€œnormal,ā€ then itā€™s most likely not a problem with the ear. You could ask whether the caloric test is really that useful or whether other tests can be done to rule out the ears as the problem. You could also read up on all of the tests on Dr. Hainā€™s website; Iā€™m sure he explains which ones are the most useful. > **[Testing for Dizziness and Hearing](https://dizziness-and-balance.com/testing/default.htm)** > **[ENG and VNG TESTING](https://dizziness-and-balance.com/testing/ENG/engvng.htm)** ---
**Author:** ![Carrie](https://mvertigo.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@Carrie](https://mvertigo.org/u/Carrie)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 8:40am UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/23 "2019-08-14T08:40:22Z")
Thank you for the links! ---
**Author:** ![Onandon03](https://mvertigo.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/f08c70/32.png) [@Onandon03](https://mvertigo.org/u/Onandon03)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 9:19am UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/24 "2019-08-14T09:19:42Z")
> [@sputnik2](#): > > Has anyone heard of these tests? Sputnik. Here I think weā€™ve hitting on something of the cultural divides between the UK and UK or maybe itā€™s as simple as the fact the UK is lagging way behind with vestibular stuff. Lack of interest, inclination and to a lesser extent funds maybe. So, you are UK based like me, but youā€™ve actually _seen_ a rotary chair. Wow! My vestibular stuff started in 2003 so I avoided the Calorific Test (Phew! It was a close one though). Iā€™ve heard of all those tests. Not really sure what half of them are for. Iā€™ve had a couple, MRI with Enhanced Contrast and on one particularly High Resolution machine the neuro-oto insisted on. No contrast dye. No injections at all. No idea what that was all about. I was too ill at the time to even ask. Just did it. Iā€™ve also had detailed hearing tests (to rule out Menieres I believe) - ā€˜the Audiological Analysisā€™ catered for I assume. Vaguely remember spending what seemed like hours in the dark in a soundproof booth wearing headphones on/off and then carrying reams of graph paper half-ways around the hospital. Got a feeling I did that all twice, two different occasions. Iā€™ve just speed read some of Dr Hainā€™s material on all this testing and feel quite reassured much of it seems quite easily covered by what he charmingly calls ā€˜Bedside Testingā€™ and Iā€˜ve had quite a few of episodes of that (including many Dix Hallpike) both literally bedside and in a neurologistā€™s consulting room. Helen ---
**Author:** ![turnitaround](https://mvertigo.org/user_avatar/mvertigo.org/turnitaround/32/4441_2.png) [@turnitaround](https://mvertigo.org/u/turnitaround)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 9:26am UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/25 "2019-08-14T09:26:17Z")
> [@Onandon03](#): > > between the UK and UK or maybe itā€™s as simple as the fact the UK is lagging way behind with vestibular stuff I donā€™t think the UK is lagging behind, but I feel doctors are pretty careful here when it comes to initiating tests. I think itā€™s a particular diagnostic approach and a focus on keeping costs under close control, even when dealing with a private client with insurance. Some doctors seem to want to prescribe a hole gamut of tests, whereas I feel UK doctors like to follow a decision tree diagram very closely and explore a patients case more step by step. ---
**Author:** ![Onandon03](https://mvertigo.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/f08c70/32.png) [@Onandon03](https://mvertigo.org/u/Onandon03)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 9:38am UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/26 "2019-08-14T09:38:57Z")
Just as one swallow doesnā€™t make a Summer one personā€™s experience cannot represent everybody elseā€™s. With the two neurologists I saw they both seemed to go mostly on the detailed history taken route so they were more looking at the whole person. Like Vets they must work on the ā€˜common things are commonā€™ theory. They look the patient up n down. In my case they see middle aged woman and even if they donā€™t mention it which neither did they must think ā€˜menopauseā€™. The neuro-otologist was very keen on that enhanced MRI. He needed to check my ear channels he said and his main concern was there was more than one thing going on because I had several different types of vertigo he did say. If I been half my age and told him Iā€™d dived into a swimming pool, stepped off a plane or had whiplash from a car accident, and then come out dizzy, maybe the reaction would have been completely different. Iā€™d have been sent on to some Balance Facility somewhere else, Helen ---
**Author:** ![Onandon03](https://mvertigo.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/f08c70/32.png) [@Onandon03](https://mvertigo.org/u/Onandon03)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 9:47am UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/27 "2019-08-14T09:47:07Z")
Iā€™m sure weā€™ve had a similar conversation before but, after all those tests, didnā€™t they still misdiagnosed you a couple of times anyway. I wouldnā€™t suggest people didnā€™t have any tests their consultant suggested but as thereā€™s no definite test for MAV we mustnā€™t expect miracles. Dr Hainā€™s website is such a source of information. Thanks Anna for pointing out the testing articles Iā€™ve never even bothered to look for them before. Fascinating. Trouble is following some conditions through even if you find you have it thereā€™s no fix. So in one way it might not prove any great help. Helen ---
**Author:** ![methanol](https://mvertigo.org/user_avatar/mvertigo.org/methanol/32/1612_2.png) [@methanol](https://mvertigo.org/u/methanol)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2019, 12:24pm UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/28 "2019-08-14T12:24:12Z")
i experienced nothing from caloric testing, no good or bad effects, nothing. ---
**Author:** ![ElizabethHope18](https://mvertigo.org/user_avatar/mvertigo.org/elizabethhope18/32/2938_2.png) [@ElizabethHope18](https://mvertigo.org/u/ElizabethHope18)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 2:15am UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/29 "2021-07-03T02:15:35Z")
Hi All, So I had a VNG caloric test this past Monday (probably worst medical test Iā€™ve ever experienced) and I have to say Iā€™m still feeling pretty off. I havenā€™t had any rotational vertigo episodes (except during the test, which was expected). I just feel like the progress I was making over the last couple of weeks has gone down the toilet. I read a few posts where people said it took a day or two to feel better, but Iā€™m feeling extra crappy. Iā€™m not sure if itā€™s anxiety or what. I also traveled (quick 1.5 hour flight) the day before and after to see this specialist so perhaps between that and the actual testing day, my brain is just not pleased right now? The flights werenā€™t bad; it was the airports that had me feeling pretty terrible. Any thoughts or advice? Just looking for a little reassurance that things will calm down soon. Thank you for any help. ---
**Author:** ![TexOkie](https://mvertigo.org/user_avatar/mvertigo.org/texokie/32/4578_2.png) [@TexOkie](https://mvertigo.org/u/TexOkie)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 3:11am UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/30 "2021-07-03T03:11:02Z")
I was administered a VNG test about 3 years ago. The results were inconclusive. The ENT wanted me to do a test on an inversion table, but I wouldnā€™t do it because I feared passing out or hurling. ---
**Author:** ![ElizabethHope18](https://mvertigo.org/user_avatar/mvertigo.org/elizabethhope18/32/2938_2.png) [@ElizabethHope18](https://mvertigo.org/u/ElizabethHope18)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 4:23am UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/31 "2021-07-03T04:23:57Z")
Hi, So sorry to hear you went through that horrible test for inconclusive results. I hope you never have to go through that again. An inversion table would just be a hard ā€œnoā€ with that test. ---
**Author:** ![MNEK18](https://mvertigo.org/user_avatar/mvertigo.org/mnek18/32/4321_2.png) [@MNEK18](https://mvertigo.org/u/MNEK18)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 8:51am UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918/32 "2021-07-03T08:51:28Z")
I lasted about 8 seconds when the actual true rotary vertigo started with the Caloric testing and I told her to stop almost immediately. It was terrible but short lived and so a ā€œCould not tolerateā€ result was the answer to this one for meā€¦. Donā€™t panic they will stop whenever youā€™re too uncomfortable. ā¤ [Previous page](https://mvertigo.org/t/caloric-test/17918.md?page=1)