Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials: Clinical Implications of a Normative Investigation.

Abstract

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) assessment may assist in the diagnosis of balance disorders. Currently, however, there are limited guidelines available for clinicians to maximise its application. This study aimed to develop procedures for ensuring reliable VEMP recordings in the clinical setting and to provide comprehensive normative data. VEMP responses from 30 normal adults were collected using the Biologic Navigator. The factors of stimulus type, frequency and intensity were considered. Only stimulus type had a significant effect on VEMP recordings, with responses from click stimuli having lower thresholds, shorter latencies and higher test-retest correlations than the tone burst stimuli. However, as the maximum click intensity of the system was 90 dB nHL, the click stimulus only elicited responses from 73.3% of ears. The results of this investigation, along with a review of the existing literature, have led to the creation of a clinical protocol for VEMP testing.