Functional evaluation of the vestibular organ in infants with risk factors for hearing loss occurring in the perinatal period.

BACKGROUND

Asphyxia at birth, low birth weight and low birth age constitute risk factors for inner ear damage in the perinatal period. Caloric stimulation is one of the most reliable diagnostic tools for vestibular testing in infants. Recording of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) evaluates the otolith organ and its pathways. Potentials reflecting the integrity of sacculo-collic reflex pathways are recorded on the surface of the neck muscles. The purpose of our study was to evaluate vestibular function in the discussed group of infants.

MATERIAL/METHODS: 72 infants aged 3 months were examined: 40 healthy controls and 32 infants (17 girls, 15 boys) with risk factors for hearing loss occurring in the perinatal period.

RESULTS

No reaction to caloric stimulation was elicited from 6 examined ears, no VEMPs were recorded from 6 ears, profound sensorineural hearing loss was diagnosed in 4 ears. The VEMP measurements did not differ between the groups. Profound sensorineural hearing loss occurred most frequently in infants with very low Apgar scores, responses to caloric stimulation were weakened in subjects with low Apgar scores. The response of the horizontal semicircular canals was more frequently abnormal than that of the otolith organs.

CONCLUSIONS

The vestibular organ functions were frequently impaired in this group of infants, but the damage was rarely complete. Infants' vestibular organs should be routinely diagnosed.