Prognostic value of vestibular evoked myogenic potential and distortion product otoacoustic emission tests in patients with a diagnosis of sudden hearing loss: A preliminary report

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) have prognostic values in the follow-up of patients diagnosed with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) with audiological tests. Patients and Methods: Between June 2013 and January 2014, a total of 27 patients (11 males, 16 females; mean age: 44.9±13.8 years; range, 18 to 60 years) diagnosed with ISSNHL at their first admissions and underwent VEMP and DPOAE tests were included. As the treatment protocol, steroid treatment combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy was initiated in all patients. At the second month of the treatment, all patients underwent VEMP and DPOAE tests once again. Hearing recovery was evaluated based on the hearing improvement, compared to the unaffected contralateral ear. Results: The median recovery rate was statistically significantly higher in the patients with normal pre-treatment VEMP test results than those with abnormal VEMP test results (p=0.023). The median recovery rate was statistically significantly higher in the patients with normal post-treatment VEMP test results compared to those with abnormal post-treatment VEMP test results (p=0.031). The median recovery rate was also statistically significantly higher in the post-treatment DPOAE test positivity than the post-treatment DPOAE test negativity (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our study results suggest that, in the follow-up of the prognosis of ISSNHL disease, VEMP test may have a prognostic value, while DPOAE test is an important parameter which can be used in the monitorization of the disease.