Ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials via bone-conducted vibration in children.

OBJECTIVE: This study utilized bone-conducted vibration (BCV) stimuli for eliciting ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs) to assess the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) system in healthy children and adults.

METHODS: Fifteen healthy children aged 3-14 years and 18 healthy adults aged 24-28 years underwent oVEMP testing. Structural factors such as body weight, body height and body mass index were measured for each healthy subject.

RESULTS: All healthy children and adults presented clear oVEMPs, bilaterally. The characteristic parameters (latencies and amplitude) of oVEMPs did not significantly differ between children and adults. The mean interaural (y-axis) acceleration magnitudes for eliciting oVEMPs were 0.37 ± 0.12 g for children and 0.41 ± 0.20 g for adults, a non-significant difference. As stimulation intensity increased stepwise, interaural acceleration magnitude increased correspondingly, leading to early nI latency and large nI-pI amplitude of oVEMPs. However, no structural factor was statistically correlated with interaural acceleration magnitude.

CONCLUSION: When children aged >3 years, the simple and quick oVEMP test via BCV stimulation can be used for investigating the integrity of the VOR system, with the characteristic parameters (latencies and amplitude) unaffected by structural factors.

SIGNIFICANCE: Establishing the norm of oVEMP is essential for diagnosing VOR deficit in children aged >3 years.