Incorporating Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) assessment into our clinical practice
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Date
2008
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Publisher
Ohio State University. Department of Speech and Hearing Science
Abstract
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMPs) are short-latency
electromyographic responses evoked by intense acoustic stimuli. They are measured in
the ipsilateral, tonically-contracted sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle. The VEMP
response is thought to arise from the vestibulocollic (also called sacculocollic) reflex.
Since its introduction in 1992 (Colebatch et al.), VEMP testing is gradually becoming a
part of standard vestibular assessment in many clinics. VEMPs have been found in
response to various stimuli including loud clicks, short tone bursts, head taps and short
duration DC currents presented to the mastoid. (Colebatch et al., 1994; Murofushi et al.,
1996; Akin & Murnane, 2001; Cheng & Murofushi, 2001; Colebatch, 2001; de Waele,
2001; Ödkvist, 2001; Basta et al., 2005). The purpose of this article is to review the
literature on VEMP testing in an effort to determine the clinical, best practice of their use.
We will explore the recommended measurement parameters, what constitutes a normal
response, how several types of pathology affect VEMPs and why we should consider
incorporating VEMP assessment into our standard vestibular evaluation protocol.