Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in patients with otosclerosis using air- and bone-conducted tone-burst stimulation.
OBJECTIVE
Otosclerosis is a progressive disease with a remodeling process causing ossicular malformation and conductive hearing loss. The aim of this study was to investigate whether vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) correlates with the progression of otosclerosis.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with otosclerosis (21 ears) without operation and 10 healthy subjects (20 ears) underwent VEMP test using air-conducted (AC) and bone-conducted (BC) tone-burst stimulation.


METHODS
Tertiary referral university hospital.


RESULTS
In 21 unoperated otosclerotic ears, 5 ears (24%) showed present AC-VEMPs, and 16 ears had absent AC-VEMPs. Conversely, 16 ears (76%) displayed present BC-VEMPs and 5 ears with absent BC-VEMPs. In those with both AC- and BC-VEMPs, none of them showed air-bone gap greater than 30 dB; in those with absent AC-VEMPs but present BC-VEMPs, 27% of the ears had air-bone gap greater than 30 dB; and in those with absence of both AC- and BC-VEMPs, 80% of the ears revealed air-bone gap greater than 30 dB. Thus, a significant relationship existed among the presence of AC-VEMPs, BC-VEMPs, and magnitude of conductive hearing loss.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of an AC-VEMP may indicate an earlier stage of otosclerosis, although absent BC-VEMP infers a later stage. Restated, AC-VEMPs may complement the results obtained with BC-VEMPs to classify the stage of otosclerosis.
Yang
Tsung-Lin
TL
Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Young
Yi-Ho
YH
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D001844:Bone Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013198:Stapedius / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*