Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Children with Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown that 1 in 1000 children are born with or present in early childhood with severe or profound hearing impairment (Mueller et al., 1999). More lose their hearing later during childhood. The lack of auditory input from environmental sounds and speech during early childhood interferes with the normal development of the auditory system and prohibits the development of speech and language abilities. Objective: To assess saccular function in children with SNHL through testing cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Patient and Methods: Control group: They were taken from relatives of patients attending the Audiology unit, Hearing and speech institute. Twenty children (40 ears) aged from 10 up to 18 years (typically developing)with normal hearing sensitivities (age and gender matched with the patient group) were recruited. Their hearing threshold level < 25dB nHL with no history of any general diseases were selected. Patient group: This is a descriptive cross sectional study of 25 children aged from 10 up to 18 years (paediatrics and adolescents) with SNHL presented to Audiology unit, Hearing and speech institute from December 2015 to November 2016.Exclusion criteria:conductive hearing loss, otitis media, ear drum perforations or any complaints of vertigo or dizziness.A written consent was taken from all the parents of children included in this study. Methods: All patients and controls were evaluated as regards the following:-Full history taking (prenatal, neonatal, postnatal to detect the cause of hearing loss), Otological examination, audiometric examination to detect the level of hearing using pure tone audiometer model Interacoustics AC40 in a sound treated room model Amplisilence E. The hearing loss was divided according to PTA average of Goodman, 1965. Speech audiometry to detect Speech Reception Threshold and Word Discrimination score.Immitancemetry was performed using immitancemeter model Interacoustics AZ26 with a probe tone 220Hz. Acoustic reflexes were done on 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz ipsilaterally. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential was performed using AUDERA of Grason-Stadler (GSI). Results: Our research confirmed the assumption that VEMPs could be recorded despite the presence of severe degrees of SNHL. SNHL does not affect VEMP P13 and N23 latency values. P13 and N23 latencies were not correlated with the degree of SNHL. VEMP P13 and N23 latencies were not correlated with age in children with SNHL. Conclusion: Our research confirmed the assumption that VEMPs could be recorded despite the presence of severe degrees of SNHL. SNHL is not associated with saccular dysfunction in the pediatric population. Recommendations: Further research on the genes causing SNHL and its relation to VEMP findings are worth undertaking. Including VEMP testing in the battery of investigations for CI candidates is suggested. [Gehan Abdel-Rahman ElZarea, Ahmed M.A. Mahmoud, Soha Mohamed Hamada and Mohamed Mahmoud Saleh.Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Children with Sensorineural Hearing Loss. N Y Sci J2017;10(8):1-11]. ISSN 1554-0200 (print); ISSN 2375-723X (online). http://www.sciencepub. net/newyork. 1. doi:10.7537/marsnys100817.01.