Tone Burst Masseter Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials: Normative Values And Test-Retest Reliability

Background Masseter vestibular evoked myogenic potential (mVEMP) is a recent tool for the assessment of vestibular and trigeminal pathways. Though a few studies have recorded mVEMP using click stimuli, there are no reports of these potentials using the more conventional VEMP eliciting stimuli, the tone bursts.Purpose The aim of the study is to establish normative values and determine the test-retest reliability of tone burst evoked mVEMP.Research Design The research design type is normative study design.Study Sample Forty-four healthy participants without hearing and vestibular deficits in the age range of 18 to 50 years participated in the study.Data Collection and Analysis All participants underwent mVEMP testing using 500Hz tone-burst stimuli at 125dB peSPL. Ten participants underwent second mVEMP testing within 1 month of the initial testing to estimate the test-retest reliability.Results Tone burst mVEMP showed robust responses in all participants. There were no significant ear and sex differences on any mVEMP parameter ( p >0.05); however, males had significantly higher EMG normalized peak-to-peak amplitude than females. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values of tone burst mVEMP showed excellent test-retest reliability (ICC >0.75) for ipsilateral and contralateral p11 latency, ipsilateral EMG normalized p11-n21 peak to peak amplitude, and amplitude asymmetry ratio. Fair and good test-retest reliability (0.40.75) was observed for ipsilateral and contralateral n21 latency, contralateral EMG normalized peak-to-peak amplitude, and amplitude asymmetry ratio.Conclusion Tone burst mVEMP is a robust and reliable test for evaluating the functional integrity of the vestibulomasseteric reflex pathway.