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Published on: August 30, 2019
Vestibular nerve functions in children with auditory neuropathy
Ozgur Akdogan1, Adin Selcuk, Ibrahim Ozcan
1Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, 4th ENT Clinic, Ankara, Turkey. drozgurakdogan@gmail.com
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|December 25, 2007
Summary
Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) and caloric tests help evaluate vestibular nerve function in children with auditory neuropathy. Abnormal VEMP results were found in most cases, suggesting its importance in diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Disorders of the cochlear nerve often involve the vestibular nerve.
- Caloric and VEMP tests allow separate assessment of superior and inferior vestibular nerves.
- Auditory neuropathy is a condition affecting hearing nerve signal transmission.
Observation:
- Three children diagnosed with auditory neuropathy underwent vestibular evaluation.
- Tests included electrophysiological assessments, VEMP, and caloric tests.
- MRI confirmed intact cochlear nerves in all participants.
Findings:
- Caloric tests were normal in all three children.
- VEMP tests showed abnormal results in two out of three children.
- Literature suggests caloric tests can also be abnormal in such cases.
Implications:
- VEMP testing is a valuable tool for assessing vestibular function in pediatric auditory neuropathy.
- Combined use of VEMP and caloric tests may offer a more comprehensive vestibular evaluation.
- Further research is warranted to establish optimal diagnostic protocols for auditory neuropathy.
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