Development of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in early life.
OBJECTIVE
This study applied vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test in full-term newborns younger than 2 weeks, to investigate the development and maturation of the sacculo-collic reflex in early life.


METHODS
A total of 45 full-term newborns were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 35 newborns aged 2-5 days and group B included 10 newborns aged 6-13 days. During natural sleep, each newborn underwent distortion product otoacoustic emission test, followed by VEMP test without sedation.


RESULTS
The response prevalence of VEMPs increases from day 2 to 5. The p13 peak latency is delayed at day 3, yet falls subsequently by day 5 and remains stable thereafter, with a mean latency of 13.3+/-0.8ms.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of healthy full-term newborns demonstrate VEMPs by day 5, with a mean p13 latency of 13.3+/-0.8ms. This criteria can be used to evaluate the development and maturation of the sacculo-collic reflex in newborns, which is responsible, at least in part, for detecting changes in head position in relation to gravity.
Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. youngyh@ntu.edu.tw
Yi-Ho
YH
Young
Chun-Nan
CN
Chen
Wu-Shiun
WS
Hsieh
Shou-Jen
SJ
Wang
D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000502:physiology*