Normative standards on a new quantitative ataxia (postural equilibrium) test battery using rails of various widths as platforms were presented in a previous report. The present study reports normative standards of performance on a related battery of ataxia tests with the floor as a platform and employed routinely in the vestibular research program of this laboratory. Significant decreases in performance with age and an apparent superior performance by males were found. The scores of bilateral and unilateral vestibular-defective individuals and of patients referred for testing because of symptoms of vertigo departed significantly from the normative standards. The usefulness of individual tests as well as of the test battery in clinical and research situations was made apparent. (Author).

Normative standards on a new quantitative ataxia (postural equilibrium) test battery using rails of various widths as platforms were presented in a previous report. The present study reports normative standards of performance on a related battery of ataxia tests with the floor as a platform and employed routinely in the vestibular research program of this laboratory. Significant decreases in performance with age and an apparent superior performance by males were found. The scores of bilateral and unilateral vestibular-defective individuals and of patients referred for testing because of symptoms of vertigo departed significantly from the normative standards. The usefulness of individual tests as well as of the test battery in clinical and research situations was made apparent. (Author).

A new multi-dimensional quantitative ataxia test battery employing the 'rail method' of testing was developed to assess more precisely than heretofore postural equilibriumdisequilibrium under unusual conditions and stresses such as rotating environments. High reliability, including testretest reliability, was demonstrated for each of two versions: a Long Version employing six rails of varying widths, and a Short Version employing two of these rails. Normative standards covering a wide age range, and age, height, and weight influences upon performance, tentative sex differences in performance, practice effects, and Test Battery relationships with several clinical-type ataxia tests were determined. Validity of the standardized test procedures in the laboratory, in the field, and in clinical situations was demonstrated, and present and future uses of the Test Battery in normals and auricularinvolved individuals in vestibular research as well as in related research-clinical areas were outlined, and several methodological limitations were indicated. (Author).