Experiments were performed on 25 otoneurologically ‘normal’ subjects to evaluate the hot caloric test as a screening test for aminoglycoside vestibular toxicity.

Using portable equipment under non-ideal conditions, it was found that there was a large inter-subject variability in nystagmic response and that, instead of a random test-retest variability, a systagmic variation in response occurred on repeated caloric stimulation with water at 44°C.

A response deline (habituation) evident in both the maximum slow phase velocity and the maximum frequency occurred at second test, although the inter-test interval ranged from 24 to 72 hours.

After a 3-month interval with no intervening tests, the mean value of the maximum frequency reverted back to the original level. However, there was still a significant reduction in maximum slow phase velocity at this time. Some individuals had a sustanined reduction in both parameters.

Hence it is concluded that the hot caloric test, used under the conditions described in this study, is not a suitable serial screening method for aminoglycoside vestibular toxicity. The reproducibility of this test under other conditions, or any other caloric test, should be established in normal subjects befre employing, it as a serial screen for aminoglycoside vestibular toxicity.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the epidemiology of middle-ear pathology in primary school entrants is such that any screening procedue based upon a ‘once and for all’ test on a single cohort of children is unlikely to identify those children most in need of intervention and likely to lead to unnecessary over referrals both to a Community Audiology Clinic or a Specialist Unit. Further evidence is produced to show the value of serial tympanometry as a screening tool generally and the use of the tympanometer 85AR specifically. Agreement is also measured between three variables in middle-ear pathology, namely clinical appearance and mobility of the tympanic memebrane and the associated Tympanogram Type. The relative merits of clinical examination as a screen are discussed. A population of children from three primary school was studies on four separate occasions during 1980. 553 five-year-old children were tested overall.

36 Patients showing increased nasal resistance were investigated before and after septoplasty. A simple method of evaluating the rhinomanometric curve has been applied. The patients were operated on consecutively in 1978–79 by the authors. Three months after operation they were followed up regarding nasal anatomy and nasal resistance. The investigation shows that this method may be of value in selecting patients suitable for septoplasty.