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The effect of preterm birth on vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in children
Zahra Eshaghi1, Zahra Jafari2, Abdolreza Shaibanizadeh3
11. Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. z_eshaghi@razi.tums.ac.ir / Zahraeshaghi2011@yahoo.com.
Insights
Very preterm birth is linked to delayed vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) in children, suggesting potential neurodevelopmental impacts. VEMPs can help monitor long-term vestibular system effects in these children.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
Background:
- Preterm birth poses significant global health challenges with lasting consequences.
- Long-term effects of preterm birth on neurodevelopment require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term impact of preterm birth on vestibular function in preschool-aged children.
- To evaluate vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) as a tool for monitoring preterm infants' neurodevelopment.
Main Methods:
- VEMPs testing was conducted on 31 children with preterm birth histories and 20 with term birth histories.
- Participants were aged 5.5 to 6.5 years and received a 500 Hz tone-burst stimulus at 95 dB nHL.
Main Results:
- Children born very preterm showed significantly longer p13 and n23 wave latencies compared to full-term controls.
- A significant difference in p13 peak latency was observed between very and mildly preterm children.
- No significant group differences were found in VEMPs amplitude or interaural amplitude ratio.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged VEMPs latencies in very preterm children may indicate neurodevelopmental delays and incomplete maturation of the vestibulospinal tract.
- VEMPs offer a non-invasive method to assess vestibular function and potential impairments at the brainstem level in young children.
- VEMPs are valuable for tracking the long-term effects of preterm birth on the vestibular system.
Background:
Preterm birth is a significant global health problem with serious short- and long-term consequences. This study examined the long term effects of preterm birth on vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) among preschool-aged children.
Methods:
Thirty-one children with preterm and 20 children with term birth histories aged 5.5 to 6.5 years were studied. Each child underwent VEMPs testing using a 500 Hz tone-burst stimulus with a 95 dB nHL (normal hearing level) intensity level.
Results:
The mean peak latencies of the p13 and n23 waves in the very preterm group were significantly longer than for the full-term group (p≤ 0.041). There was a significant difference between very and mildly preterm children in the latency of peak p13 (p= 0.003). No significant differences existed between groups for p13-n23 amplitude and the interaural amplitude difference ratio. The tested ear and gender did not affect the results of the test.
Conclusion:
Prolonged VEMPs in very preterm children may reflect neurodevelopmental impairment and incomplete maturity of the vestibulospinal tract (sacculocollic reflex pathway), especially myelination. VEMPs is a non-invasive technique for investigating the vestibular function in young children, and considered to be an appropriate tool for evaluating vestibular impairments at the low brainstem level. It can be used in follow-ups of the long-term effects of preterm birth on the vestibular system.
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