Prognostic value of vestibular evoked myogenic potential and distortion product otoacoustic emission tests in patients with a diagnosis of sudden hearing loss: A preliminary report

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) and distortion productotoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) have prognostic values in the follow-up of patients diagnosed with idiopathic sudden sensorineuralhearing loss (ISSNHL) with audiological tests.Patients and Methods: Between June 2013 and January 2014, a total of 27 patients (11 males, 16 females; mean age: 44.9±13.8years; range, 18 to 60 years) diagnosed with ISSNHL at their first admissions and underwent VEMP and DPOAE tests were included.As the treatment protocol, steroid treatment combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy was initiated in all patients. At the secondmonth of the treatment, all patients underwent VEMP and DPOAE tests once again. Hearing recovery was evaluated based on thehearing improvement, compared to the unaffected contralateral ear.Results: The median recovery rate was statistically significantly higher in the patients with normal pre-treatment VEMP test resultsthan those with abnormal VEMP test results (p=0.023). The median recovery rate was statistically significantly higher in the patientswith normal post-treatment VEMP test results compared to those with abnormal post-treatment VEMP test results (p=0.031). Themedian recovery rate was also statistically significantly higher in the post-treatment DPOAE test positivity than the post-treatmentDPOAE test negativity (p