Effect of Ageing on Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential

Abstract

Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is an electromyographic response to loud auditory stimuli that is recorded at the sternocleidomastoid muscle during tonic contraction. The present study aimed to observe age related changes in VEMP results, to know the age at which a significant change can be observed and to see whether there is any difference in VEMP responses between the ears. A total of 80 (145 ears) subjects participated in the study. They were divided intofive groups- Group I: 20 to 30 years, Group JI: 40 to 50 years, Group III : 50 to 60 years, Group IV: 60 to 70 year, and Group V: 70 to 80 years . Audiological evaluation involving pure tone audiometry, uncomfortable level, tympanometry, rejlexometry, and auditory brainstem response were carried out for the selection of subjects. The ipsilateral VEMP responses were recorded from both the ears using 500Hz tone burst presented at 105dBnHL for all the individuals. Results showed that the percentage of occurrence of VEMP in Group I to V was about 96.88 %, 92.85%, 83.33 %, 85. 7!%, and 92.85% respectively. The latency of the VEMP responses did not differ significantly with age, however, amplitude reduced significantly. There was no significant difference in VEMP parameters recorded from right and left ears for all the groups. In the study decrease in amplitude was noted from 40 year onwards. The most significant change in peak to peak amplitude was noted after 60 years. These findings indicate that age should be taken into consideration while interpreting VEMP results.