Vertigo: caloric test: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Vertigo: caloric test

Sample item

Cold water irrigation of the right ear in a healthy person produces nystagmus with the quick component to which side?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Left

The mnemonic COWS states cold opposite, warm same: with cold irrigation the fast phase beats away from the stimulated ear. So cold water in the right ear produces left-beating nystagmus. Absent response suggests a canal paresis.

Option by option

  • A. Left (correct)

    Correct. Cold water gives a fast phase to the opposite side.

  • B. Upward

    Caloric stimulation of the lateral canal produces horizontal nystagmus.

  • C. Right

    The right is the direction for warm water.

  • D. No nystagmus

    A normal ear shows a response.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Left. The mnemonic COWS states cold opposite, warm same: with cold irrigation the fast phase beats away from the stimulated ear.

Why is "Upward" not the answer?

Caloric stimulation of the lateral canal produces horizontal nystagmus.

Why is "Right" not the answer?

The right is the direction for warm water.

Why is "No nystagmus" not the answer?

A normal ear shows a response.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vertigo: caloric test in ENT. So cold water in the right ear produces left-beating nystagmus. Absent response suggests a canal paresis.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Vertigo: caloric test?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.