Evoked accelerometry: a sensitive and accurate method for evaluating facial nerve function using a portable device

A new electrodiagnostic technique has been developed which can be used to monitor facial nerve function. The technique has been termed "evoked accelerometry" (EAC) and is administered by a portable DC powered device. In performing a test, the device stimulates the facial nerve and then measures the evoked muscular response by a small accelerometer sensor affixed to the face with suction. The magnitude of the response is displayed as a digital readout on the device meter. The degree to which a reading is subnormal indicates the extent of nerve degeneration. In a study of normal participants the stimulus-response characteristics of the EAC technique were found to be similar to those of ENoG, indicating the clinical efficacy of the technique. However, evoked accelerometry was found to be more sensitive than ENoG (i.e., detectable response of 0.3% to 0.6% vs. 1.8% to 5.2%) and more accurate than ENoG (average error of 6.8% vs. 13.9% to 20.7%).