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Defining Norms, Reliability, and Thresholds for Tone Burst-Induced Masseter Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential
Fathima Ruxana1, Kumaran Thirunavukkarasu2
1Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, SRM School of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India.
Bone conduction masseter vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (mVEMPs) show stable and reproducible results in young adults. This method is valuable for assessing vestibular function, especially in individuals with conductive hearing loss.
Area of Science:
- Vestibular neurophysiology
- Oto-neurology
- Audiology
Background:
- Masseter vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (mVEMPs) assess saccular and vestibular nerve function noninvasively.
- Bone-conduction (BC) stimulation is advantageous for patients with conductive hearing loss compared to air-conduction.
- Establishing normative data and reliability for BC-induced mVEMPs is crucial for clinical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative values for BC-induced mVEMPs using 500 Hz tone bursts in young adults.
- To evaluate the test-retest reliability of BC-induced mVEMPs.
- To assess the clinical utility of BC-induced mVEMPs.
Main Methods:
- A normative study involving 45 healthy young adults (18-35 years).
- BC-mVEMPs elicited with 500 Hz tone bursts via a B71 vibrator.
- Surface electromyography recorded masseter muscle responses; two test sessions within one month.
Main Results:
- Consistent P1 (11.76 ms) and N1 (14.77 ms) latencies observed across test sessions.
- Fair to good test-retest reliability for P1 latency and asymmetry ratio.
- Threshold responses reliably elicited up to 115 dB SPL.
Conclusions:
- BC-induced mVEMPs provide stable and reproducible responses in healthy young adults.
- The method demonstrates clinical utility for patients with conductive pathology, reduced neck muscle strength, and the elderly.
- BC-mVEMPs offer a valuable tool for vestibular assessment in specific patient populations.
