Noise affects one's hearing as well as balance mechanism. The hearing mechanism of the noise-exposed individuals has been extensively studied. However, in view of the poor research focus on the sacculo-collic reflexes, especially in this study area, the present study was undertaken to examine the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) in subjects with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). A total of 30 subjects (55 ears) with NIHL participated in the present study within the age range of 30-40 years. VEMP recordings were done at 99 dBnHL using IHS instrument. The results indicated that as the average pure tone hearing threshold increased, the VEMP latencies were prolonged and peak to peak amplitude was reduced in NIHL subjects. Out of the 55 ears, VEMP was absent in 16 (29.0%) ears. The latency was prolonged and the peak to peak amplitude was reduced in 19 (34.6%) ears. VEMP results were normal in 20 (36.4%) ears. Therefore, VEMP was abnormal or absent in 67% of NIHL subjects in the present study. Hence it can be concluded that the possibility of vestibular dysfunction, specially the saccular pathway, is high in individuals with NIHL. VEMP, a non-invasive and user friendly procedure, can be employed in these individuals to assess sacculo-collic reflex.

Introduction: Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials are short latency electrical impulses that are produced in response to higher level acoustic stimuli. They are used clinically to diagnose sacculocollic pathway dysfunction.Aim: This study aimed to compare the vestibular evoked myogenic potential responses elicited by click stimuli and short duration tone burst stimuli, in normal hearing individuals.Method: Seventeen subjects participated. In all subjects, we assessed vestibular evoked myogenic potentials elicited by click and short duration tone burst stimuli.Results and conclusion: The latency of the vestibular evoked myogenic potential responses (i.e. the p13 and n23 peaks) was longer for tone burst stimuli compared with click stimuli. The amplitude of the p13–n23 waveform was greater for tone burst stimuli than click stimuli. Thus, the click stimulus may be preferable for clinical assessment and identification of abnormalities as this stimulus has less variability, while a low frequency tone burst stimulus may be preferable when assessing the presence or absence of vestibular evoked myogenic potential responses.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of stimulus polarity on speech evoked auditory brainstem response (ABR). In order to accomplish it, speech evoked ABR was recorded with various stimulus polarities from 17 normally hearing adults. The result of the study shows differential effect of stimulus polarity on components of speech evoked ABR. Latency of peaks for onset, sustained and offset responses of speech evoked ABR were found to be not significantly different across stimulus polarities. In contrast, the amplitude of first formant and high frequency components was found to be significantly reduced for alternating polarity compared to single polarity, while amplitude of fundamental frequency response was not affected by polarity of the stimuli. Thus speech evoked ABR may be recorded using single polarity rather than using alternating polarities.

One of the recent diagnostic tests to assess the function of otolithic organs is through vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing. There are equivocal findings on effect of aging on ocular VEMP (oVEMP) parameters with reference to latencies. Hence this study was taken up to investigate the age related changes in oVEMP parameters. This present study considered 30 participants in each age group i.e., young adults, middle-aged adults and older adults. oVEMP were recorded using insert earphone at 100dBnHL at 500hZ short duration tone burst. The results showed in older adult significant difference in response rate, latencies and amplitude as compared to young and middle adult. Hence age should be taken into consideration when interpreting oVEMP results.

Aim. Ocular Evoked Myogenic Potential (oVEMP) are short latency potentials evoked by higher acoustic stimulation. In this study, we aimed at comparing the click, 500 Hz mixed modulated, and 500 Hz short duration tone burst stimuli using oVEMP.Material. Click, 500 Hz mixed modulated and 500 Hz short duration tone burst stimuli were used for the study.Method. Conventional sampling and conveneint study design were used. Sixty healthy subjects underwent contralateral oVEMP testing maintaining 30 degrees upward gaze. Single channel electrode montage was applied to record oVEMP response.Results. On statistical analysis the three stimuli evoked equal response rates (100%), and when latency of n1 and p1 and peak-peak amplitude were compared, the click evoked showed significantly early latency and lower peak-peak amplitude than the 500 Hz stimuli. Five hundred Hz stimuli did not show significant difference in latency and peak-peak amplitude of n1-p1.Discussion. Thus, 500 Hz stimuli can evoke better latency and peak-peak amplitude. oVEMP has good clinical significance in diagnosing subjects with vestibular dysfunction. To add to the sensitivity of the oVEMP test, 500 Hz stimuli may also be used as it can evoke better oVEMP responses in clinical population with good morphology.

Objective: This study examined the effects of bilingualism and multilingualism on supra-threshold auditory processing abilities in children. Design: Cross-sectional study. Study sample: Ninety children participated in the study, based on the number of languages they know children were assigned into three groups, i.e. monolingual, bilingual and multilingual. Amplitude modulation detection threshold, gap detection threshold, pitch discrimination threshold and spectral ripple discrimination threshold were measured. Results: Results showed superior supra-threshold auditory processing abilities among multilingual and bilingual children than monolingual children. The results further showed that, the supra-threshold auditory processing of multilingual children was better than bilingual children. Conclusion: This finding suggests that knowledge of multiple languages improves supra-threshold auditory processing abilities. This study adds to the growing body of literature supporting the superior supra-threshold auditory processing abilities among bilingual and multilingual individuals.