Abstract

VEMP measurements are subject to various influencing factors: patient age, threshold, sound intensity and frequency. Using air (AC) and bone conduction (BC) the vestibular receptors and afferents of the otolith organs can be activated to varying degrees. Recordings of cervical (cVEMP) and ocular VEMP (oVEMP) are clinically possible. AC-cVEMP are primarily an indicator of the sacculocollic reflex pathway. Together with findings on the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) and complimentary otolith tests, VEMP enable otolith function analysis of each side separately. In addition, the distinction between combined or isolated canal and otolith dysfunction in terms of subtyping and patterns of damage in mono- and bilateral disorders, such as vestibular neuritis or bilateral vestibulopathy, is possible. Moreover, VEMP is relevant in terms of prognostic and therapeutic considerations as well as expert assessments.