ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this study  was to evaluate vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in patients with unilateral cochlear implant and normal hearing individuals.

Methods: The study group consisted of 20 children (9 girls, 11 boys; mean age 8.70 ± 2.34 years; range 6-14 years) who underwent with unilateral cochlear implantation. As controls, 12 healthy volunteer children (6 girls, 6 boys; mean age 8.91 ± 2.77 years; range 6-14 years) also participated in the study. Testing of VEMP was performed in cochlear implant patients and in the control group.

Results: Vestibular evoked myogenic potential recorded in both ears of control individuals were normal. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential was bilaterally obtained in 10 (50%) patients with cochlear implant. Two children (10%) showed no responses bilaterally. The mean P1 latencies and VEMP thresholds showed significant difference between implanted ears of patients with cochlear implant and control group (p < 0.05). The mean VEMP thresholds showed significant difference between non-implanted ears of patients with cochlear implant and the control group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Some patients with cochlear implant show a saccular dysfunction. The addition the VEMP test to the cochlear implantation test battery may provide useful information about the saccular function before and after surgery.