Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in chronic noise-induced hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of chronic noise exposure on vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials.


METHODS
Prospective study.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Wang
Yen-Pin
YP
Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Young
Yi-Ho
YH
D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D002150:Caloric Tests; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004584:Electronystagmography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000502:physiology; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic / Q000502:physiology; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000503:physiopathology; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*