title: [Objective evaluation of otolithic end organs in sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the function of the otolithic end organs and their input pathways in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty cases of unilateral SSHL were enrolled as the observing group from May, 2011 to May, 2012. Thirty age- and gender-matched normal subjects were recruited as the control group. Both patients and normal subjects underwent conventional air-conducted ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) in bilateral ears. The results were compared between the affected ears, the contralateral ears and the normal controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, oVEMP was elicited in 16 affected ears (40.0%), 23 contralateral ears (57.5%) and 43 normal ears (71.7%). cVEMP could be elicited in 25 affected ears (62.5%), 30 contralateral ears (75.0%) and 49 normal ears (81.7%) respectively. Significant statistical significance could be found in the oVEMP response rate between the affected ears and the normal ears (χ(2) = 9.949, P = 0.002) and in the cVEMP response rate between the affected ears and the normal ears (χ(2) = 4.582, P = 0.032). Significant statistical difference could not be found in all oVEMP and cVEMP parameters (threshold, N1 latency, P1 latency, latency interval and amplitude) among groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The otolithic vestibular end organs and their input pathways could be damaged in SSHL patients. Such damages could be monitored objectively by cVEMP and oVEMP examinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xin-da
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yan-fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun-rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Quan-an
authors.initials: QA
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Kaga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimitaka
mesh_terms: D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D010037:Otolithic Membrane; D058585:Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000473:pathology