Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T20:59:13.713Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials: review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 June 2010

R Mudduwa ,
N Kara ,
D Whelan  and
Anirvan Banerjee
R Mudduwa
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
N Kara
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
D Whelan
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
Anirvan Banerjee*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Anirvan Banerjee, Department of Otolaryngology, James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW. Fax: +44 (0)1642 282756 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Disorders of balance often pose a diagnostic conundrum for clinicians, and a multitude of investigations have emerged over the years. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing is a diagnostic tool which can be used to assess vestibular function. Over recent years, extensive study has begun to establish a broader clinical role for vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing.

Objectives:

To provide an overview of vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing, and to present the evidence for its clinical application.

Review type:

Structured literature search according to evidence-based medicine guidelines, performed between November 2008 and April 2009. No restrictions were applied to the dates searched.

Conclusion:

The benefits of vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing have already been established as regards the diagnosis and monitoring of several clinical conditions. Researchers continue to delve deeper into potential new clinical applications, with early results suggesting promising future developments.

Keywords

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic PotentialVestibulocolic ReflexVestibular DisordersSacculeOtolithInner Ear Abnormalities
Type
Review Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 10 , October 2010 , pp. 1043 - 1050
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Jacobson, GP, Newman, CW, Kartush, JM. Handbook of Balance Function Testing. New York: Mosby Year Book, 1992Google Scholar
2Yoshie, N, Okudaira, T. Myogenic evoked potential responses to clicks in man. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl 1969;102:374–81Google Scholar
3Colebatch, JG, Halmagyi, GM, Skuse, NF. Myogenic potentials generated by a click evoked vestibulocollic reflex. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1994;57:190–7Google Scholar
4Robertson, DD, Ireland, DJ. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. J Otolaryngol 1995;24:3–8Google ScholarPubMed
5Ferber-Viart, C, Duclaux, R, Colleaux, B, Dubreuil, C. Myogenic vestibular evoked potentials in normal subjects; comparison between responses obtained on sternomastoid and trapezius muscles. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1997;117:472–81CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Bickford, RG, Jacobson, JL, Cody, DTR. Nature of averaged evoked potentials to sound and other stimuli in man. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1964;112:204–23Google Scholar
7Colebatch, JG, Halmagyi, GM. Vestibular evoked potentials in human neck muscles before and after unilateral vestibular deafferentiation. Neurology 1992;42:1635–6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Welgampola, MS, Colebatch, JG. Vestibulocollic reflexes; normal values and the effect of age. Clin Neurophysiol 2001;112:1971–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Todd, NP, Cody, FWJ, Banks, JR. A saccular origin of frequency tuning in myogenic vestibular evoked potentials? Implications for human responses to loud sounds. Hear Res 2000;141:180–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Ochi, K, Ohashi, T, Nishino, H. Variance of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Laryngoscope 2001;111:522–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Park, SH, Cha, CI, Kim, KH, Kim, H, Hwang, MG, Hong, NP. The clinical significance of vestibular evoked myogenic potential evoked by click sound. Korean Journal of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery 2001;44:1253–8Google Scholar
12Beyea, JA, Zeitouni, AG. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in healthy control subjects using the head rotation method. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2008;37:522–7Google Scholar
13Wang, CT, Young, YH. Comparison of the head elevation versus rotation methods in eliciting vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Ear Hear 2006;27:376–81CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Ferber-Viart, C, Soulier, N, Dubreuil, C, Duclaux, R. Cochleovestibular afferent pathways of trapezius muscle responses to clicks in human. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1998;118:6–10Google ScholarPubMed
15Vanspauwen, R, Wuyts, FL, Van de Heyning, PH. Improving vestibular evoked myogenic potential reliability by using a blood pressure manometer. Laryngoscope 2006;116:131–5Google Scholar
16Landis, C, Hunt, WA. The Startle Pattern. Oxford: Farrar and Rinehart, 1939Google Scholar
17Townsend, GL, Cody, DT. The average inion response evoked by acoustic stimulation; it's relation to the saccule. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1971;80:121–31CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18Geisler, CD, Frishkopf, LS, Rosenblith, WA. Extracranial responses to acoustic clicks in man. Science 1958;128:1210–1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Cody, DTR, Bickford, RG. Averaged evoked myogenic responses in normal man. Laryngoscope 1969;79:400–46CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20Kiang, NYS, Crist, AH, French, MA, Edwards, AG. Post auricular electric response to acoustic stimuli in humans. Quarterly Progress Report 44 1963;68:218–25Google Scholar
21Li, MW, Houlden, D, Tomlinson, RD. Click evoked EMG responses in sternocleidomastoid muscles; characteristics in normal subjects. J Vestib Res 1999;9:327–34CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22Akin, FW, Muranane, OD. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials: preliminary report. J Am Acad Audiol 2001;12:445–52Google ScholarPubMed
23Akin, FW, Muranane, OD, Proffitt, TM. The effects of click and tone burst stimulus parameters on the vestibular evoked myogenic potential. J Am Acad Audiol 2003;14:500–9Google ScholarPubMed
24Murofushi, T, Ochiai, A, Ozeki, H, Iwasaki, S. Laterality of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Int J Audiol 2004;43:66–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25Young, YH, Huang, TW, Cheng, PW. Assessing the stage of Meniere's disease using vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;129:815–18Google Scholar
26Brantberg, K, Granath, K, Schart, N. Age related changes in vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Audiol Neurootol 2007;12:247–53CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27Lee, SK, Cha, CI, Jung, TS, Park, DC, Yeo, SG. Age related differences in parameters of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Acta Otolaryngol 2008;128:66–72CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28Ochi, K, Ohashi, T. Age related changes in the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;129:655–9Google Scholar
29Su, HC, Huang, TW, Young, YH, Cheng, PW. Aging effect on vestibular evoked myogenic potential. Otol Neurotol 2004;25:977–80Google Scholar
30Zapala, DA, Brey, RH. Clinical experience with the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. J Am Acad Audiol 2004;15:198–215Google Scholar
31Wang, SJ, Yeh, TH, Chang, CH, Young, YH. Consistent latencies of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Ear Hear 2008;29:923–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32Murofushi, T, Matsuzaki, M, Wu, CH. Short tone burst evoked myogenic potentials on the sternocleidomastoid muscle: are these potentials also of vestibular origin? Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;125:660–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33Welgampola, MS, Colebatch, JG. Characteristics of tone burst evoked myogenic potentials in the sternocleidomastoid muscles. Otol Neurotol 2001;22:796–802CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
34Cheng, PW, Huang, TW, Young, YH. The influence of clicks versus short tone bursts on the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Ear Hear 2003;24:195–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
35Bath, AP, Harris, N, McEwan, J. Effect of conductive hearing loss on the vestibulocollic reflex. Clin Otolaryngol 1999;24:181–3Google Scholar
36Halmagyi, GM, Yavor, RA, Colebatch, JG. Tapping the head activates the vestibular system: a new use for the clinical reflex hammer. Neurology 1995;45:1927–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
37Sheykholeslami, K, Murofushi, T, Kermany, MH, Kaga, K. Bone conducted evoked myogenic potentials from the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Acta Otolaryngol 2000;120:731–4Google ScholarPubMed
38Welgampola, MS, Rosengren, SM, Halmagyi, GM, Colebatch, JG. Vestibular activation by bone conducted sound. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2003;74:771–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39Sheykholeslami, K, Habiby Kermany, MH, Kaga, K. Bone-conducted vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients with congenital atresia of the external auditory canal. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2001;57:25–9Google Scholar
40Sheykholeslami, K, Habiby Kermany, MH, Kaga, K. Frequency sensitivity range of the saccule to bone conducted stimuli measured by vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Hear Res 2001;160:58–62Google Scholar
41Brantberg, K, Tribukait, A. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in response to laterally directed skull taps. J Vestib Res 2002;12:35–45Google Scholar
42Brantberg, K, Tribukait, A, Fransson, PA. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in response to skull taps for patients with vestibular neuritis. J Vestib Res 2003;13:121–30CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
43Brantberg, K, Westin, M, Löfqvist, L, Verrecchia, L, Tribukait, A. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in response to lateral skull taps are dependent on two different mechanisms. Clin Neurophysiol 2009;120:974–9Google Scholar
44Brantberg, K, Löfqvist, L, Westin, M, Tribukait, A. Skull tap induced vestibular evoked myogenic potentials: an ipsilateral vibration response and a bilateral head acceleration response? Clin Neurophysiol 2008;119:2363–9Google Scholar
45Watson, SR, Colebatch, JG. Vestibulocollic reflexes evoked by short duration galvanic stimulation in man. J Physiol 1998;513:587–97Google Scholar
46Murofushi, T, Takegoshi, H, Ohki, M, Ozeki, H. Galvanic evoked myogenic responses in patients with an absence of click evoked vestibulocollic reflexes. Clin Neuro Physiol 2002;113:305–9Google Scholar
47Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapy in Meniere's disease. American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Foundation Inc. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1995;113:181–5Google Scholar
48De Waele, C, Tran Ba Huy, P, Diard, JP, Fraysse, G, Vidal, PP. Saccular dysfunction in Meniere's disease. Am J Otol 1999;20:223–32Google Scholar
49Murofushi, T, Shimizu, K, Takegoshi, H, Cheng, PW. Diagnostic value of prolonged latencies in the vestibular evoked myogenic potential. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;127:1069–72CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
50Hong, SM, Yeo, SG, Kim, SW, Cha, CI. The results of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, with consideration of age-related changes, in vestibular neuritis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and Meniere's disease. Acta Otolaryngol 2008;128:861–5Google Scholar
51Rauch, SD, Zhou, G, Kujawa, SG, Guinan, JJ, Herrmann, BS. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials show altered tuning in patients with Ménière's disease. Otol Neurotol 2004;25:333–8Google Scholar
52Osei-Lah, V, Ceranic, B, Luxon, LM. Clinical value of tone burst vestibular evoked myogenic potentials at threshold in acute and stable Ménière's disease. J Laryngol Otol 2008;122:452–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
53Murofushi, T, Matsuzaki, M, Takegoshi, H. Glycerol affects vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in Meniere's disease. Auris Nasus Larynx 2001;28:205–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
54Seo, T, Node, M, Yukimasa, A, Sakagami, M. Furosemide loading vestibular evoked myogenic potential for unilateral Menieres disease. Otol Neurotol 2003;24:283–8Google Scholar
55Yang, WS, Kim, SH, Lee, JD, Lee, WS. Clinical significance of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Otol Neurotol 2008;29:1162–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
56Hong, SM, Park, DC, Yeo, SG, Cha, CI. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving each semicircular canal. Am J Otolaryngol 2008;29:184–7Google Scholar
57Boleas-Aguirre, M, Sánchez-Ferrándiz, N, Artieda, J, Pérez, N. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo [in Spanish]. Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp 2007;58:173–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
58Minor, LB, Solomon, D, Zinreich, JS, Zee, DS. Sound and/or pressure induced vertigo due to bone dehiscence of the superior semicircularcanal. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998;124:249–58Google Scholar
59Banerjee, A, Whyte, A, Atlas, M. Superior canal dehiscence: review of a new condition. Clin Otolaryngol 2005;30:9–15Google Scholar
60Colebatch, JG, Day, BL, Bronstein, AM, Davies, RA, Gresty, MA, Luxon, LM et al. Vestibular hypersensitivity to clicks is characteristic of the Tullio phenomenon. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1998;65:670–8Google Scholar
61Watson, SR, Halmagyi, GM, Colebatch, JG. Vestibular hypersensitivity to sound (Tullio phenomenon): structural and functional assessment. Neurology 2000;54:722–8Google Scholar
62Minor, LB, Cremer, PD, Carey, JP, Della Santina, CC, Streubel, SO, Weg, N. Symptoms and signs in superior canal dehiscence syndrome. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2001;942:259–73CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
63Streubel, SO, Cremer, PD, Carey, JP, Weg, N, Minor, LB. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in the diagnosis of superior canal dehiscence syndrome. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl (Stockh) 2001;545:41–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
64Brantberg, K, Bergenius, J, Tribukait, A. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients with dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal. Acta Otolaryngol 1999;119:633–40Google Scholar
65Brantberg, K, Bergenius, J, Mendel, L, Witt, H, Tribukait, A, Ygge, J. Symptoms, findings and treatment in patients with dehiscence of the superior semicircular canal. Acta Otolaryngol 2001;121:68–75Google ScholarPubMed
66Modugno, GC, Brandolini, C, Savastio, G, Ceroni, AR, Pirodda, A. Superior semicircular canal dehiscence: a series of 13 cases. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 2005;67:180–4Google Scholar
67Halmagyi, GM, Colebatch, JG. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in the sternomastoid muscle are not of lateral canal origin. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl (Stockh) 1995;520:1–3Google Scholar
68Ochi, K, Ohashi, T, Watanabe, S. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential in patients with unilateral vestibular neuritis; abnormal VEMP and its recovery. J Laryngol Otol 2003;117:104–8Google Scholar
69Halmagyi, GM, Aw, ST, Karlberg, M, Curthoys, IS, Todd, MJ. Inferior vestibular neuritis. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2002;956:306–13Google Scholar
70Chen, CW, Young, YH, Wu, CH. Vestibular neuritis; three dimensional videonystagmography and vestibular evoked myogenic potential results. Acta Otolaryngol 2000;120:845–8Google ScholarPubMed
71Murofushi, T, Monobe, H, Ochiai, A, Ozeki, H. The site of lesion in vestibular neuritis. Study by galvanic VEMP. Neurology 2003;61:417–18Google Scholar
72Lesmas Navarro, MJ, Pérez Garrigues, H, Morera Pérez, C, Piqueras, A. Contribution of the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials to the study of the vestibular neuritis [in Spanish]. Acta Otorrinolaringol Esp 2009;60:49–53CrossRefGoogle Scholar
73Murofushi, T, Halmagyi, GM, Yavor, RA, Colebatch, JG. Absent vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in vestibular neuro labyrinthitis; an indicator of inferior vestibular nerve involvement? Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1996;122:845–9Google Scholar
74Linthicum, FH, Brackmann, DE. Bilateral acoustic tumours. A diagnostic and surgical challenge. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1980;106:729–33Google Scholar
75Rouleau, GA, Wertelecki, W, Haines, JL. Genetic linkage of bilateral acoustic neurofibromatosis to a DNA marker on chromosome 22. Nature 1987;329:246–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
76Martuza, RL, Eldridge, R. Neurofibromatosis 2 (bilateral acoustic neurofibromatosis). N Engl J Med 1988;318:684–8Google Scholar
77Young, YH, Chiang, CW, Wang, CP. Three dimensional analysis of post caloric nystagmus caused by postural change. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl (Stockh) 2001;545:69–72Google Scholar
78Wang, CP, Hsu, WC, Young, YH. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in neurofibromatosis 2. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2005;114:69–73Google Scholar
79Slattery, WH, Brackmann, DE, Hitselburger, W. Hearing preservation in neurofibromatosis type 2. Am J Otol 1998;19:638–43Google Scholar
80Murofushi, T, Matsuzaki, M, Mizuno, M. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients with acoustic neuromas. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998;124:509–12Google Scholar
81Takeichi, N, Sakamoto, T, Fukuda, S, Inuyama, Y. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in patients with acoustic neuromas. Auris Nasus Larynx 2001;28(Suppl):S39–41Google Scholar
82Ushio, M, Matsuzaki, M, Takegoshi, H, Murofushi, T. Click and short tone burst evoked myogenic potentials in cerebellopontine angle tumors. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl 2001;545:133–5Google ScholarPubMed
83Patko, T, Vidal, PP, Vibert, N, Tran Ba Huy, P, de Waele, C. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients suffering from an unilateral acoustic neuroma; a study of 170 patients. Clin Neurophysiol 2003;114:1344–50Google Scholar
84Chen, CW, Young, YH, Tseng, HM. Preoperative versus post operative role of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in cerebello pontine angle tumour. Laryngoscope 2002;112:267–71CrossRefGoogle Scholar
85Tsutsumi, T, Tsunoda, A, Noguchi, Y, Komatsuzaki, A. Prediction of the nerves of origin of vestibular schwannomas with vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Am J Otol 2000;21:712–15Google ScholarPubMed
86Shupak, A, Bar-El, E, Podoshin, L, Spitzer, O, Gordon, CR, Ben-David, J. Vestibular findings associated with chronic noise induced hearing impairment. Acta Otolaryngol 1994;114:579–85Google Scholar
87Osterveld, WJ, Polman, AR, Schoonhey, J. Vestibular implications of noise induced hearing loss. Br J Audiol 1982;16:227–32CrossRefGoogle Scholar
88McGill, TJI, Schuknecht, HF. Human cochlear changes in noise induced hearing loss. Laryngoscope 1976;86:1293–302Google Scholar
89Wang, YP, Young, YH. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in chronic noice-induced hearing loss. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007;137:607–11Google Scholar
90Wang, YP, Hsu, WC, Young, YH. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in acute acoustic trauma. Otol Neurotol 2006;27:956–61Google Scholar
91Shimizu, K, Murofushi, T, Sakurai, M, Halmagyi, M. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2000;69:276–7Google Scholar
92Versino, M, Colnaghi, S, Callieco, R, Bergamaschi, R, Romani, A, Cosi, V. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in multiple sclerosis patients. Clin Neurophysiol 2002;113:1464–9Google Scholar
93Alpini, D, Pugnetti, L, Caputo, D, Cornelio, F, Capobianco, S, Cesarani, A. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in multiple sclerosis: clinical and imaging correlations. Multiple Sclerosis 2004;10:316–21Google Scholar
94Patkó, T, Simó, M, Arányi, Z. Vestibular click-evoked myogenic potentials: sensitivity and factors determining abnormality in patients with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis 2007;13:193–8Google Scholar
95Sartucci, F, Logi, F. Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials: a method to assess vestibulo-spinal conduction in multiple sclerosis patients. Brain Res Bull 2002;59:59–63CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
96Itoh, A, Kim, YS, Yoshioka, K, Kanaya, M, Enomoto, H, Hiraiwa, F. Clinical study of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and auditory brainstem responses in patients with brainstem lesions. Acta Otolaryngol 2001;545:116–19Google ScholarPubMed
97Takegoshi, H, Murofushi, T. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration. Acta Otolaryngol 2000;120:821–4Google ScholarPubMed
98Chen, CH, Young, YH. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in brainstem stroke. Laryngoscope 2003;113:990–3Google Scholar
99De Waele, C, Meguenni, R, Freyss, G, Zamith, F, Bellalimat, N, Vidal, PP et al. Intra tympanic gentamycin injection for Menieres disease: vestibular hair cell impairement and regeneration. Neurology 2002;59:1442–4Google Scholar
100Solarino, B, Coppola, F, Di Vella, G, Corsalini, M, Quaranta, N. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) in whiplash injury. Acta Otolaryngol 2008;13:1–6Google Scholar