title: [The value of otolith function test in the prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the characteristics and prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss through vestibular evoked myogenic potentials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with unilateral sudden hearing loss underwent an ear test battery, including audiometry, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential(oVEMP). The cVEMP and oVEMP in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss were investigated. Their associations with initial hearing threshold, the type of audiogram, the results of coloric test and hearing recovery were also accessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After one-month treatment, the average threshold declined significantly in affected ears, with normal VEMP rates improved significantly (P < 0.05). Initial hearing threshold and hearing recovery were significantly associated with the results of coloric test and the results of VEMP test (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study indicated that vestibular evoked myogenic potential examination was not only a useful additional diagnostic tool in the neurotological evaluation of patients suffering sudden hearing loss, but also very valuable in the prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Ruichun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000175:diagnosis*; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D058585:Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials