title: Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in children affected by myelomeningocele.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study is to establish if the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) could be used as a clinical test for the evaluation of vestibular function in children affected by myelomeningocele (MMC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen children, aged between 3 and 17 years, who had been affected by MMC were investigated. Data obtained from these children were compared with normal data from healthy children of the same age. Electromyographic activity of sternocleidomastoid muscle was recorded, while children were laid supine and asked to raise their head off the bed in order to activate their neck flexors bilaterally. The saccular receptors were acoustically stimulated with a logon of 500 Hz at an intensity of 130 dB peSPL presented monaurally through earphones. In each recording, we analyzed latencies and amplitudes of the p13-and n23 waves and the amplitude ratio between the two ears.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VEMPs were detected to be normal in 13 patients. In particular, the mean p13 and mean n23 latencies were 15.7 (±1.4) and 21.7 (±1.1) ms, respectively; the mean amplitude value was 84.7 (±36.6), while the mean amplitude ratio was 17.4 (±12). A comparison of latencies and amplitude ratios between the children and healthy control group did not reveal any significant difference. On the contrary, a comparison of amplitude values between the two groups showed significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, vestibulocollic reflex is normal in patients affected by MMC, and VEMPs could represent a valid and noninvasive technique eligible to investigate the vestibular functions in these children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. pmpicciotti@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Pasqualina M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Picciotti
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorita
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calò
authors.forename: Mariapina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battista
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paolucci
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ausili
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Massimi
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rendeli
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D058585:Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests