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The vestibulo-collic reflex
A P Bath1, N Harris, M P Yardley
1Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
Clinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences
|November 4, 1998
Summary
A new clinical test using electromyography (EMG) reliably detects otolith organ function via a disynaptic reflex evoked by loud clicks. This simple test shows promise for diagnosing vestibular disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Vestibular System Physiology
Background:
- Assessing otolith organ function currently lacks simple, reliable clinical tests.
- Recent research indicates a potential otolith-evoked disynaptic reflex measurable via electromyography (EMG).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a novel, simple clinical test for assessing otolith organ function.
- To adapt existing evoked response audiometry (ERA) equipment for this purpose.
Main Methods:
- Recording electromyographic (EMG) waveforms from sternomastoid muscles in response to loud clicks.
- Utilizing equipment adapted from evoked response audiometry (ERA).
- Analyzing waveform latency and laterality in normal subjects and patients with hearing loss.
Main Results:
- A short-latency (8 ms) positive-negative EMG waveform was identified in 31 of 32 normal subjects.
- The positive peak (P1) latency averaged 11.7 ms, and the negative peak (N1) averaged 20.5 ms.
- The response was predominantly ipsilateral, with a contralateral component in 35.5% of subjects.
Conclusions:
- The identified EMG waveform represents a potential otolith-evoked disynaptic reflex.
- This technique shows promise as a simple and reliable clinical test for otolith organ function.
- Further research is needed to establish its full value in diagnosing vestibular lesions.