Correlation between subjective visual horizontal test and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential test

Abstract

Conclusion: The static subjective visual horizontal (SVH) test correlates with the dynamic ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) test in healthy and pathological ears, and further confirms that both tests may, at least in part, share the same utricular reflex pathway. Objective: This study correlated the SVH test results with those of the oVEMP and cervical VEMP (cVEMP) tests to investigate their relationships. Methods: Twenty healthy subjects underwent the SVH test at a view pattern angle of 30° or 70° horizontal tilt under various background distractions to establish the optimal stimulation mode for SVH test. Thereafter, 20 patients with unilateral Meniere's disease underwent the SVH test using the optimal mode. In addition, oVEMP and cVEMP tests were performed in all subjects. Results: The preliminary study in 20 healthy subjects at a view pattern angle of 70° under counterclockwise square background distraction revealed that the mean deviation degree of the SVH test was –0.61 ± 1.17°. Based on the criteria, abnormal percentages of SVH in 20 Meniere's patients were 40%. All healthy subjects had normal oVEMPs and cVEMPs. In contrast, eight patients (40%) showed abnormal oVEMPs and nine (45%) revealed abnormal cVEMPs. The SVH test results correlated significantly with oVEMP results, but not with cVEMP results.