Abstract
Objective: 1) Analyze the sensitivity and specificity of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in evaluation vestibular function. 2) Compare the cervical VEMP response in normal volunteers and vertiginous patients.
Method: A prospective study in 50 normal subjects and 50 vertigo patients was conducted at Chiang Mai University Hospital from February to December 2009. Cervical VEMP responses using air-conducted 500-Hz tone-burst stimuli with the subjects in a sitting position and head turned to contralateral shoulder were analyzed.
Results: Average age and men-to-women ratio in the normal group (44.0 ± 9.3 years; 12:38) and in the vertigo group (44.7 ± 9.8 years; 17:33) were not different. The rate of absent response between normal ears (15%) and disease ears (47.4%) showed a significant difference (p value < 0.0001).
Conclusion: To identify vestibular dysfunction using cervical VEMP, the absence of response was the most diagnostic parameter. Other vestibular test batteries should be added to confirm the cervical VEMP responses.
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