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Tone Burst Masseter Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials: Normative Values and Test-Retest Reliability
Sangu Srinivasan Vignesh1, Niraj Kumar Singh2, Krishna Rajalakshmi2
1Department of Neurology, Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Background:
Masseter vestibular evoked myogenic potential (mVEMP) is a recent tool for the assessment of vestibular and trigeminal pathways. Though a few studies have recorded mVEMP using click stimuli, there are no reports of these potentials using the more conventional VEMP eliciting stimuli, the tone bursts.
Purpose:
The aim of the study is to establish normative values and determine the test-retest reliability of tone burst evoked mVEMP.
Research Design:
The research design type is normative study design.
Study Sample:
Forty-four healthy participants without hearing and vestibular deficits in the age range of 18 to 50 years participated in the study.
Data Collection And Analysis:
All participants underwent mVEMP testing using 500 Hz tone-burst stimuli at 125 dB peSPL. Ten participants underwent second mVEMP testing within 1 month of the initial testing to estimate the test-retest reliability.
Results:
Tone burst mVEMP showed robust responses in all participants. There were no significant ear and sex differences on any mVEMP parameter (p > 0.05); however, males had significantly higher EMG normalized peak-to-peak amplitude than females. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values of tone burst mVEMP showed excellent test-retest reliability (ICC >0.75) for ipsilateral and contralateral p11 latency, ipsilateral EMG normalized p11-n21 peak to peak amplitude, and amplitude asymmetry ratio. Fair and good test-retest reliability (0.4 < ICC > 0.75) was observed for ipsilateral and contralateral n21 latency, contralateral EMG normalized peak-to-peak amplitude, and amplitude asymmetry ratio.
Conclusion:
Tone burst mVEMP is a robust and reliable test for evaluating the functional integrity of the vestibulomasseteric reflex pathway.
