Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in chronic noise-induced hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of chronic noise exposure on vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Twenty patients with chronic noise-induced hearing loss, presenting as bilateral notched audiogram at 4 kHz, underwent audiometry, caloric, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests.

RESULTS

Caloric and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential tests revealed abnormal responses in nine (45%) and 10 (50%) patients, respectively. However, when both results were considered together, the abnormal rate reached 70% (14 of 20). The hearing threshold of 4 kHz significantly associated with vestibular-evoked myogenic potential results (ie, vestibular-evoked myogenic potential was abnormal in patients with greater degrees of hearing loss), but not with caloric responses.

CONCLUSION

Patients with bilateral 4-kHz notched audiogram and hearing threshold of 4 kHz > 40 dB may show abnormal (absent or delayed) vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials, indicating that the vestibular part, especially the sacculocollic reflex pathway, has also been damaged.