The Feasibility of Testing Otoliths and Semicircular Canals Function using VEMPs and vHIT in Malaysian Children

Abstract

Early identification of any vestibular dysfunction and balance problem in children is crucial for their general well-being. However the identification process, could be challenging and difficult as compared to adults. We conducted a preliminary study to review our initial experience with ocular and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs and cVEMPs), video head impulse test (vHIT) and Bruininks Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency II (BOT-2) on healthy children and also to determine the feasibility of these tests in this population. Twenty one normal healthy children (12 boys and 9 girls), aged between 6 and 15 years old (mean age, 11.15 ± 2.54 years) participated in the study. They underwent oVEMPs and cVEMPs elicited with bone conduction stimulus via minishaker and air conduction stimulus respectively. All six semicircular canals were assessed using the vHIT. Bilateral coordination, balance, running, speed and agility which are the three subsets of BOT-2 gross motor assessment were conducted for balance assessment. All subjects completed the vestibular and balance assessment except for 1 subject who did not complete the vHIT vertical component. The response rate was 100% for oVEMPs, cVEMPs, and BOT-2, and 95.24% for vHIT. The mean latency and mean amplitude for n10

Audiovestibular Quantification in Rare Third Window Disorders in Children

“…A VOR gain of 0.8-1 was considered normal for the lateral semicircular canal whilst a VOR gain of 0.6-0.8 was the norm for the vertical canals. Recent studies (33,34) indicate that vertical canal gains are lower in the pediatric population than in adults similar to what we have also found using similar equipment in children with normal vestibular function (35). Saccades, rather than VOR gain, were deemed as pathological weakness as studies have shown that saccades can occur with normal VOR gain in vestibular hypofunction (36,37).…”

“…One difficulty in children is the standardization of norms. We have explained about these norms in our Methods section (33)(34)(35). The average VOR gain in our series in all canals was mostly normal in the 4 different groups that we have also found in a previous study (5) suggesting that VOR gain is largely preserved in pediatric third window disorders.…”

Test-Retest Reliability, Effects of Age and Comparison of Horizontal 2 Semicircular Canals Gain Values between Head Impulse and Suppression Head Impulse Paradigms

“…A portable vHIT device (GN Otometrics, ICS Impulse, USA) was used to assess the VOR function of HIMP and SHIMP as previously described. 9 , 12 , 20 , 21 The vHIT consists of a pair of light-weight video goggles and an infra-red video camera on the right side of the frame, equipped with a head-mounted red-laser beam. The goggle was secured on the subject’s head using an adjustable strap to avoid slippage during head impulses.…”

Effects of Age on Cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials and Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials Using 750 Hz Tone Burst Stimuli among Healthy Adults

“…This study used testing protocols, stimulus recording techniques and parameters recommended by past studies ( 16 , 22 , 23 ). The 750 Hz TB acoustic stimuli (rise/fall time 0 ms, plateau 2.67 ms, stimulation rate 5/s) were used.…”

“…The recording was done within a 50 ms time window, with 80 stimuli averaged for each run. The EMG signal was amplified and band-passed filtered between 20 Hz and 500 Hz ( 22 ).…”