No abstract

A case of multiple sclerosis with acute deafness and dizziness as initial symptoms was reported. The pure-tone audiometry showed a high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss; in the auditory evoked brain stem response (ABR), the left side had a normal peak I with an absence of subsequent peaks. In the equilibrium test, Bruns’ nystagmus was present, and the caloric test demonstrated CP on the left side. MRI disclosed a high-intensity lesion in the cerebellar peduncle (T2-weighted image). With steroid therapy, the deafness and dizziness improved within 10 days, although, after 20 days, the findings of the ABR and caloric test remained unchanged.

No abstract

POLGON (Polarized light goniometer) was used to evaluate ataxia during stepping movements in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD) and Parkinson's disease. The measurements included mean angular change of shoulders (M.A.C.S.) and its coefficient of variation (C.V.). In patients with SCD, the values of M.A.C.S. were significantly larger at 1.0 step/s than those at other stepping rhythms. This results suggests that the stepping rhythm of 1.0 step/s is useful for the detection of cerebellar ataxia. The values of C.V. correlated with the degree of advancement of SCD. In patients with Parkinson's disease, the values of M.A.C.S. tended to decrease because of the restricted elevation of the knee, while those of C.V. were increased. The results showed that the stepping test using the POLGON was useful for estimation of the characteristic disequilibrium of SCD and Parkinson's disease.

Head movement of normal subjects and patients with peripheral vestibular disorders while stepping was recorded using three accelerometers, a multi-channel telemeter and a microcomputer. The head movement registered from normal subjects was stable at a stepping speed of 1.2 or 1.4 stepslsec. Patients with peripheral vestibular disorders (except for BPPV) showed sigmfkantly greater head movement values in all three directions and smaller ratios of anteroposterior component to lateral component in the head movement, as compared with those of normal subjects.A close relationship between head movement and vestibular functions has been verified by our previous works (Taguchi, 1982~7, 1982b. Head movement can be recorded mechanically, optically, or by m a n s of an accelerometer, though it will be very difficult to register the head movement exactly while stepping, walking, or running. The application of accelerometers with telemetering technique seems to be most appropriate of its usefulness and for economical reasons.The authors attempted to measure head movement for clinical purposes by using accelerometers while the subject was stepping. MATERIALS AND METHODSgravity in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders. Practica Otologica (Kyoto) 75, 281. Taguchi, K. 19826. Effect of optokinetic stimulation on head movement in patients with Mtniire's disease. Practica Otologica (Kyoto) 75, 1271.