Cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Older Adults: Comparison of Amplitude and Frequency Tuning across Different Severity of Hearing Loss
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Abstract
Background and Aim: Hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction frequently co-occur in older adults, affecting balance and mobility. Changes in the vestibular system can alter cervical vestibular myogenic potentials. This study aimed to investigate the amplitude and frequency tuning characteristics of cervical vestibular myogenic potentials (cVEMP) across different degrees of hearing loss in older adults.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 30 young adults with normal hearing and 30 older adults (50-70 years) with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, categorized into mild, moderate and moderately severe hearing loss groups (n=10 per group). CVEMPs were recorded for 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz tone bursts. Amplitude and frequency amplitude ratios were analyzed using ANOVA with post hoc tests.
Results: Older adults with hearing loss showed significantly reduced amplitudes compared to young adults across all frequencies. Amplitude progressively decreased with increasing hearing loss severity, though it was not statistically significant between the hearing loss subgroups. Frequency amplitude ratios of persons with moderate and moderately severe hearing loss were significantly different from those of normal hearing. Frequency tuning shift towards 1000Hz was observed in mild hearing loss group. Responses were absent in a significantly higher proportion of persons with higher degree of hearing loss.
Conclusion: This study highlights saccular function in older adults across various degrees of hearing loss. It reveals tuning shift in cases of mild hearing loss, and a progressive decline in frequency-specific responsiveness with increasing hearing impairment.
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