Comparison of head rotation versus head elevation methods for vestibular evoked myogenic potentials by using logon stimulus

Abstract

To compare vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) between two different methods, head rotation (HR) with unilateral recording and head elevation (HE) with bilateral simultaneous recording. Twenty-eight healthy children (56 ears) were involved in the study. The subjects were tested in two different positions: head rotation (HR) method and head elevation (HE) method. Right- and left-side recordings were made separately in HR method and simultaneously in HE method. Logon type stimulus with 120dB Hl intensity was used to trigger VEMPs in both methods. The response rate was 80.4% for HR method and 89.3% for HE method (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to P1 latency, N1 latency, and P1-N1 interval. The mean P1-N1 amplitude of HE method was higher than HR method (p<0.05). There were very strong positive correlations between two methods regarding N1 latency and P1-N1 interval (r: 0.849 and 0.841, respectively). Bilateral simultaneous VEMP recording in head elevation position by using logon stimulus is a practical way to evaluate vestibulocollic reflex in children and it gives superior results than unilateral recording with head rotation position.