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Abstract
Objective
A new prototype bone conduction (BC) transducer B250, with an emphasized low-frequency response, is evaluated in vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) investigations. The aim was to compare cervical (cVEMP) and ocular (oVEMP) responses using tone bursts at 250 and 500 Hz with BC stimulation using the B250 and the conventional B81 transducer and by using air conduction (AC) stimulation.
Methods
Three normal subjects were investigated in a pilot study. BC stimulation was applied to the mastoids in cVEMP, and both mastoid and forehead in oVEMP investigations.
Results
BC stimulation was found to reach VEMP thresholds at considerably lower hearing levels than in AC stimulation (30–40 dB lower oVEMP threshold at 250 Hz). Three or more cVEMP and oVEMP responses at consecutive 5 dB increasing mastoid stimulation levels were only obtained in all subjects using the B250 transducer at 250 Hz. Similar BC thresholds were obtained for both ipsilateral and contralateral mastoid stimulation. Forehead stimulation, if needed, may require a more powerful vibration output.
Conclusion
Viable VEMP responses can be obtained at a considerably lower hearing level with BC stimulation than by AC stimulation. The cVEMP and oVEMP responses were similar when measured on one side and with the B250 attached to both ipsilateral and contralateral mastoids.
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Acknowledgments
This study was supported by grants from Swedish Innovations Agency (Vinnova) and The Swedish Association of Hard of Hearing People (HRF). Equipment for this study was supported by Ortofon A/S and Interacoustics A/S, Denmark.
Disclosure
The corresponding author (BH) holds patents regarding the BEST principle and LJ is an employee of Ortofon A/S, which manufactured the prototype bone conduction transducer B250 for this study. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.