Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP)
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) testing is completed to assess the integrity of sensory organs in the inner ear and branches of the vestibular nerve.
The inner ear contains two otolith organs called the saccule and the utricle. These organs detect information about linear movements of the head and body. The otolith organs are responsive to auditory stimuli at louder presentation levels. VEMPs are obtained by measuring the response from a large muscle in the neck, the sternocleidomastoid or from a muscle located under the eye, the inferior oblique.
VEMP testing is completed using sticker electrodes that are placed on the forehead, chin or sternum, on the sides of the neck and under the eyes. The clinician will clean the patient’s skin prior to placing the sticker electrodes to insure that the electrodes are making good contact with the skin. During the testing, the patient will be asked to turn his or her head to the side or look upright at a target on the wall while listening to sound being presented to the ear.
VEMP testing is clinically useful in identifying dysfunction of the superior and inferior branches of the vestibular nerves and determining if otolith dysfunction is present. Most VEMP testing is completed on adults less than 65 years old, as the VEMP responses decrease with increasing age.
