Objective: To investigate the characteristics of air-conducted ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) in healthy young people , so as to establish the normative data of young people.
Method: Fifty-five healthy young subjects were recruited as study participants, 500 Hz air-conducted tone burst was used as stimulation. The threshold of oVEMP in each ear was examined. The latencies of P1 and N1, P1-N1 interval, peak-to-peak of P1-N1 amplitude and asymmetry ratio were measured. Effects of gender on oVEMPs were also exam- ined.
Result: The typical complex wave of N1 and P1 was observed in all subjects. The threshold of oVEMP examination was(82.23 ± 12.92) dBHL, 95 dBHL air-conducted get the latencies of P1 and N1, P1-N1 interval,peak-to-peak P1-N1 amplitude in these healthy young people were(11.53 ± 0.80)ms, (16.61 ± 0.87)ms, (5.18 ± 11.04)ms, (5.96 ± 2.59)μv, respectively. The peak-to-peak P1-N1 amplitude of male was (6.49 ± 2.67) μv ,the female was (5.21 ± 2.34) μv, there were significant differences between male and female subjects in the wave amplitude (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Air-conduction induced oVEMP is a new method for vestibular function test. The amplitude of the oVEMP wave was different between male and female. Therefore it is necessary to establish the normal value according to genders.