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Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in children with sensorineural hearing loss
Satbir Singh1, Rohit Kumar Gupta, Prawin Kumar
1All India Institute of Speech & Hearing, Mysore 570006, India. satbirpgi2006@yahoo.com
Insights
Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing revealed significantly lower amplitude responses in children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, indicating vestibular dysfunction. These findings highlight the need for audiology and otology professionals to evaluate vestibular function in hearing-impaired children.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Audiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Sensorineural hearing loss (SNH) can impact vestibular function, crucial for motor development.
- Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing is a key diagnostic tool for assessing otolith organ function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate saccular function in children with severe to profound SNH using VEMP testing.
- To compare VEMP parameters between children with SNH and normal-hearing controls.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 15 children (4-12 years) with severe to profound SNH and 10 normal-hearing children underwent VEMP testing.
- Saccular function was assessed by analyzing VEMP latencies and amplitudes.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in VEMP P1 and N1 latencies were observed between the SNH and control groups (p>0.05).
- VEMP amplitudes were significantly lower in the SNH group compared to controls (p<0.05).
- Two children in the SNH group exhibited absent VEMP responses in both ears.
Conclusions:
- Children with severe to profound SNH show impaired saccular function, evidenced by reduced VEMP amplitudes.
- Audiologists and otologists should consider vestibular evaluation in hearing-impaired children due to the role of vestibular function in motor development.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to establish routine vestibular evaluation protocols and their clinical impact.
Objective Of The Study:
To assess the saccular function using the vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test in children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Methods:
15 children (12 males and 3 females) with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss in the age range of 4-12 years constituted the study group. 10 children (6 males and 4 females) with normal hearing constituted the control group. All the children were evaluated for saccular function by using the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP).
Results:
For study group the mean P1 and N1 latencies values were 15.12ms and 23.86ms, respectively. For control group the mean P1 and N1 latencies were 15.39ms and 23.68ms. The comparison of mean P1 and N1 latencies values between study and control groups revealed no significant difference (p>0.05). Furthermore, the mean amplitude values of VEMP responses for study and control groups were 75.78μV and 160.51μV, respectively. The comparison mean amplitude values between study and control groups revealed statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Out of 15 children in the study group 2 children had the absent VEMP response in both the ears.
Conclusion:
Because the vestibular function plays an important role in gross motor development in children, audiologists and otologist should recognize and understand the vestibular dysfunction in hearing impaired children and be prepared to undertake appropriate evaluations. However, additional research is needed on a larger sample size to determine the value of routine vestibular evaluation in children with sensorineural hearing loss and its potential benefit on the clinical outcome of these patients along with VEMP testing.
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