Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in chronic noise-induced hearing loss

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of chronic noise exposure on vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials. Study Design Prospective study. Subjects and Methods Twenty patients with chronic noise-induced hearing loss, presenting as bilateral notched audiogram at 4 kHz, underwent audiometry, caloric, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests. Results Caloric and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests revealed abnormal responses in nine (45%) and 10 (50%) patients, respectively. However, when both results were considered together, the abnormal rate reached 70% (14 of 20). The hearing threshold of 4 kHz significantly associated with vestibular-evoked myogenic potential results (ie, vestibular-evoked myogenic potential was abnormal in patients with greater degrees of hearing loss), but not with caloric responses. Conclusion Patients with bilateral 4-kHz notched audiogram and hearing threshold of 4 kHz >40 dB may show abnormal (absent or delayed) vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials, indicating that the vestibular part, especially the sacculocollic reflex pathway, has also been damaged.