Original Paper

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Newborns
Chun-Nan Chen^a, Shou-Jen Wang^a, Chi-Te Wang^a, Wu-Shiun Hsieh^b, Yi-Ho Young^a

Departments of
^aOtolaryngology and
^bPediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

Address of Corresponding Author

Audiol Neurotol 2007;12:59-63 (DOI: 10.1159/000097248)

  Key Words

• Myelination
• Sacculocollic reflex
• Vestibular evoked myogenic potential

  Abstract

This study presents a novel method for recording vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in newborns, used to investigate the maturation of sacculocollic reflex at birth.Twenty full-term newborns aged 2-5 days old were enrolled in this study. During natural sleep, each newborn underwent distortion product otoacoustic emission test, and VEMP test using the head rotation method. For comparison, 20 healthy adults also underwent VEMP test using the same method. Based on adult criteria, 40 newborn ears revealed normal VEMPs in 40%, prolonged VEMPs in 35%, and absent VEMPs in 25%, indicating that great variation exists in the maturation of the sacculocollic reflex at birth. Comparison of VEMP characteristics between healthy newborns and adults revealed nonsignificant difference in the response rate and the latency of n23. However, significant differences existed in the latency of p13, interpeak p13-n23 interval and p13-n23 amplitude between newborns and adults. In conclusion, VEMPs in newborns can be easily recorded by the head rotation method. Prolonged or absent VEMPs in newborns may reflect incomplete maturity of the sacculocollic reflex pathway, especially the myelination. A further large number of newborns receiving MRI scan for other reasons may undergo VEMP test to verify this hypothesis.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Yi-Ho Young, MD
Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital
1 Chang-Te Street, Taipei (Taiwan)
Tel. +886 2 2312 3456, ext. 5221, Fax +886 2 2394 6674
E-Mail youngyh@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw

  Article Information

Received: February 15, 2006
Accepted after revision: July 26, 2006
Published online: November 20, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 19