Head tilt dependent subjective visual vertical during air-conducted VEMP stimulation

Objectives: VEMP is a well described objective test examining otolith responses to high-frequency stimulation, but its reflection of subjective tilt perception is not well studied. SVV assesses otolith imbalance tone subjectively. The present study analyses the influence of air-conducted VEMP stimulation on SVV deviation during concurrent VEMP stimulation and SVV recording.

Patients and methods:

15 patients with known unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders underwent SVV examination. Head tilt dependent SVV deviation was recorded with head upright, with head tilted 15 ° to the right side and with head tilted 15 ° to the left side. Furthermore corresponding SVV examination was performed during concurrent air-conducted VEMP stimulation applied to the right ear and to the left ear.

Results:

Mean SVV differences between head upright position and head tilted 15 ° to the right position during right VEMP stimulation and left VEMP stimulation were enlarged compared to without VEMP stimulation (p < 0.001, p = 0.001). Mean SVV differences between head upright position and head tilted 15 ° to the left position during right VEMP stimulation and left VEMP stimulation were enlarged compared to without VEMP stimulation (p = 0.023, p = 0.004).

Conclusion:

Air-conducted vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) stimulation show an influence on subjective visual vertical (SVV) differences between head upright position and head tilted position.

Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
18. April 2018 (online)