The influence of clicks versus short tone bursts on the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials.
OBJECTIVE
Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) has become a diagnostic tool to evaluate the integrity of sacculo-collic reflex. To obtain a more consistent VEMP response in normal-hearing subjects, we examine whether clicks or short tone bursts are more effective in eliciting VEMP responses.


METHODS
Prospective study. Twenty-nine normal-hearing volunteers (58 ears) were given VEMP tests. Clicks and short tone bursts were presented alternately to evoke VEMPs. The latencies of peak p13 and n23, peak-to-peak interval and amplitude (p13-n23) were measured and compared.


RESULTS
Click stimulation of 57 ears (98%) produced VEMPs (C-VEMPs), whereas 51 (88%) revealed positive short tone burst-evoked VEMPs (STB-VEMPs), exhibiting a significant difference (p < 0.05). Furthermore, C-VEMPs displayed shorter latency, longer interval and larger amplitude than STB-VEMPs, with a significant difference (p < 0.05), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
C-VEMPs had a higher response rate, shorter latency, and larger amplitude than STB-VEMPs. These findings suggest that click is superior to short tone burst to trigger VEMPs. Because C-VEMPs have a shorter p13 latency than STB-VEMPs, the interpretation of prolonged latency differs in each stimulus condition.
Cheng
Po-Wen
PW
Department of Otolaryngology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Huang
Tsung-Wei
TW
Young
Yi-Ho
YH
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000502:physiology