Development of Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Preterm Neonates

Abstract

Our recent study successfully recorded vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) responses in full-term newborns. However, when VEMP responses are elicited in preterm neonates remains unclear. This study employed the VEMP test in 27 low-risk preterm and 25 healthy full-term neonates without sedation to investigate the development of VEMP response after birth. Fourteen (26%) of 54 ears in preterm neonates exhibited VEMP responses, a response rate significantly lower than that of full-term neonates (72%). The mean latencies of peaks p13 and n23 in the preterm group were significantly longer than those in the full-term group. Analysis of variable parameters for present VEMPs in pre- and full-term neonates revealed that the cutoff values of body weight were 2.26 and 2.82 kg, and that those of postmenstrual age were 37.1 and 38.4 weeks, respectively. Both body weight and postmenstrual age were significantly negatively correlated with p13 and n23 latencies but not with p13-n23 amplitude. In conclusion, present VEMPs can be anticipated when the body weight of pre- and full-term neonates reaches >2.26 and 2.82 kg, respectively. It indicates that the sacculocollic reflex develops in the same manner, but the difference in response rate between full- and pre-term neonates may, at least in part, correlate with muscle bulk and strength, relative to the body weight adequate for the VEMP response.

Assessment of functional development of the otolithic system in growing children: A review

“…Accordingly, clear cVEMPs can be obtained when the body weights of the pre-term and full-term neonates reach >2.26 and >2.82 kg, respectively, indicating that the sacculo-collic reflex develops in the same manner, but the difference in the response rate between full-term and pre-term neonates may partly correlate with muscle bulk and strength, relative to the body weight that is adequate for the cVEMP response [40].…”

“…Thus, if a newborn showed absent or prolonged cVEMPs at day 5, repeated cVEMP tests are essential at day 6-13 for confirming the cVEMP abnormality, since maturation progresses more rapidly in functional systems i.e. vestibular, acoustic, tactile and proprioceptive senses that are utilized in early life [40].…”

The effect of saccular function on static balance ability of profound hearing-impaired children

“…vestibular nerve, and the vestibulospinal tract [11], but also in assessing the growth of saccluo-colloc reflex in healthy newborns and children [11][12][13][14] as well as in determining its fundamental parameters [11,15] and comparing the response between healthy newborns and pre-term ones [16,17]. ASNR is believed to have a vestibular origin, especially the saccule and vestibular nuclei, and is a large response elicited by high-intensity-level stimulation in people with profound hearing loss [18][19][20][21][22][23].…”

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in term newborn infants with severe hyperbilirubinemia

“…reported a significant difference between VEMP latencies for preterm and term infants. Furthermore, they reported that there was an inverse association between VEMP responses and both gestational age and birthweight 24 . Young et al .…”

“…The purpose of the VEMP test is to determine if the saccule, one portion of the otoliths and the inferior vestibular nerve and central connections are intact and work normally. Normal values for their thresholds, latencies, amplitudes, and side‐to‐side differences have been defined 21,23–26 . In this study, the significant prolongation of latencies was calculated in cases of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.…”