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This article review was submitted Patricia B. Kricos, Ph.D., who is a Professor and Director of Audiology at Gallaudet University and a Contributing Editor for Audiology Online in the area of Electrophysiology.
Article:
Ackley, R.S., Tamaki, C., Oliszewski, C.N., Inverso, D. (2004). Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential Assessment of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patients. Insights in Practice: Clinical Topics in Otoneurology. GN Otometrics, Publ. Sept. 2004.
Summary:
Clinical findings conducted at the Gallaudet Hearing and Balance Center corroborate clinical findings reported in the literature indicating that in subjects with vertigo or imbalance or history of these disorders vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) tend to be abnormal with respect to amplitude, latency and/or augmented calculations. Further, the findings suggest that subjects with vertigo or imbalance may be tested accurately and without discomfort using this procedure unlike other traditional test methods. However, there is a dearth of literature regarding clinical application of this procedure to Deaf and Hard of Hearing subjects. The test is a measure of the saccule, inferior vestibular nerve branch of cranial nerve VIII, medulla, and neck muscles and as such are independent of hearing. Although loud acoustic signals are used to generate a response, the signal produces a pressure wave which initiates hydrodynamic stimulation of vestibular hair cells. Clinical applications of VEMP indicate that this test is useful in assessing balance function in Deaf and Hard of Hearing patients.
AO Journal Group: VEMP Assessment of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patients
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