Short Communication: The Belly–Tendon Derivation Yields Superior Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential Amplitudes in a Normal Pediatric Sample

• Published in: American journal of audiology Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 88 - 93
• Main Authors: Bilodeau, Megan, Jacobson, Gary P., Roberts, Richard A., Hatton, Kelsey
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 01.03.2020
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Audiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Comparative analysis; Ears & hearing; Electrodes; Feedback (Response); Female; Humans; Male; Medical centers; Motor Development; Pediatrics; Prospective Studies; Reaction time; Reference Values; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials - physiology; Vestibular Function Tests - methods; Writing Instruction; Writing Skills
• ISSN: 1059-0889; 1558-9137; 1558-9137
• DOI: 10.1044/2019_AJA-19-00056

Purpose The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether the "belly-tendon" electrode derivation produced ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs) in children that were superior to those recorded with the infraorbital-chin electrode derivation. Method This was a prospective observational study using a sample of convenience at a tertiary care medical center. Subjects were 13 children between the ages of 5 and 12 years. We compared the latency of the N1 wave and the N1-P1 peak-to-peak amplitude for the belly-tendon electrode derivation to the infraorbital-chin electrode derivation. Results The belly-tendon electrode derivation was associated with superior N1-P1 amplitudes compared to the infraorbital-chin electrode derivation. However, the large amplitude was also associated with greater variability compared to the infraorbital-chin derivation. There were no significant electrode derivation-based differences in N1 latency. Additionally, there was no predictable relationship between age and oVEMP amplitude. Conclusion As shown previously in adults, the belly-tendon electrode derivation produces significantly larger oVEMP amplitudes compared to the infraorbital-chin electrode derivation.