Normative Comparison of the Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test: Los Angeles vs. Syracuse Data

Abstract

A normative comparison was carried out on the Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test. Two hundred and twenty two (222) children, ages five to nine, from Syracuse, New York, were compared with the original Los Angeles sample of 226. In analyzing the Syracuse data, no significant differences were found in duration of postrotary nystagmus by age, sex, or age/sex interaction. Comparison of the Syracuse with the Los Angeles data revealed significantly different means and standard deviations, with the effect that the cut-off point for diagnosing prolonged nystagmus shifted upward. It was concluded that postrotary nystagmus is a consistent measure unaffected by age or six in normal five- to nine-year-olds, but that in view of the differences between the Syracuse and Los Angeles data, care should be taken in diagnosing prolonged postrotary nystagmus.

The Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test: A Validity Study

“…The sample was divided into four age groups (8-8.9, 9-9.9, 10-10.9, and 11+) and ANOVA on age by SCPNTT was carried out. As in other studies (Ayres, 1975;Kimball, 1981;Punwar, 1982), age was not found to be a significant factor (F = 1.826, p = .16). Therefore, the SCPNTT data for the entire sample were used in all further analyses.…”

“…The SCPNT follows essentially the same procedures for rotational testing first developed by Barany and as such has a number of shortcomings, some of which have been noted in the literature. Ottenbacher (1978) described the need for control of visual fixation and arousal and both Ayres (1975) and Kimball (1981) have indicated that ENG would be a preferred method of evaluating nystagmus.…”

“…The test was designed to determine the degree of normalcy of the child's vestibular function and derive inferences about the brain's integrative processes. Since its development, the SCPNT has become an essential tool of the sensory integrative therapist not only because of its relative importance for sensory integrative diagnostics, as pointed out by Kimball (1981) and Ottenbacher (1978), but also because it provides empirical evidence for vestibular involvement in sensory integrative dysfunction (Ayres, 1978). To quote:…”

“…Indeed, the SCPNT is considered by many to be a valid test of vestibular function (Ayres, 1975;Kimball, 1981;Ottenbacker, 1978;Scardina, 1981) capable of identifying a large proportion (ca. 50%) of learning disabled children whose academic disabilities are associated with vestibular dysfunction and who, therefore, require sensory integrative therapy (Ayres, 1978;Ottenbacker, 1978;Ottenbacher, Watson and Short, 1979).…”

“…Royeen (1980) investigated factors affecting test-retest reliability. Kimball (1981) provided a cross-validation study, comparing Syracuse norms to Los Angeles norms. Punwar (1982) also provided cross-validation data and expanded the age range of the normative data.…”