|
Cranial Nerve Assessment: VII.
Vestibulococlear
(Auditory) |
|
Examination type |
Neurological |
|
Patient & Body Segment Positioning |
Patient needs to be in a comfortable position,
either
sitting or standing.
Patient should have their eyes closed. For the second part of
this test, the patient should be standing with eyes open. |
|
Examiner Position |
The examiner
needs to be anterior to (in front of) the patient. For the
second part of this test, the examiner should be standing beside
the patient with arms ready to catch the patient if he should
become unsteady. |
|
Performing the Test |
Ask the
patient to identify sounds in each ear individually. Examples
of sounds to identify include fingers rubbing together, snapping
fingers, or a ticking watch.
For the
second part of the test, ask the patient to balance first on one
foot with eyes open, then on the other foot with eyes open. |
|
Tissues
Being Tested |
Cranial
nerve VIII. Vestibulococlear nerve |
|
Positive Test |
Inability to
recognize sounds or diminished hearing ability in first part of
test, or unsteadiness/inability to balance in second part of
test |
|
Interpretation |
Intracranial involvement |
|
Common errors in
performing exam |
Forgetting
to test both hearing and balance; not spotting the athlete
during the balance portion of the test |
|
Factors possibly
resulting in misinterpretation |
Make sure that the athlete understands what you
are doing when performing the test |
|
Related tests |
Cranial
nerve assessment |
|
References |
Booher M. James. Athletic Injury
Assessment. 4th edition. McGraw Higher
Education 2000 |
|
Links: |
http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/MedEd/GrossAnatomy/h_n/cn/cn1/cn5.htm |
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