[Registration of average potentials from neck muscles after the acoustic stimulation of the vestibule in patients with impaired function of the internal ear and in healthy subjects].

Electrophysiological studies of human perceptive functions are displayed in last years. The vestibular evolved myogenic potentials (VEMP) seems to represent a new and promising technique for assessment of vestibulo-spinal reflex function. In this study we have measured VEMP in patients with disturbed function of inner ear. We have studied 6 patients with unilateral sensorineural deafness and normal excitability of vestibular organs; 6 patients with unilateral weakness of vestibular function and 19 healthy subjects. We have found that in patients with unilateral weakness of estibular function VEMPs had diminished amplitudes whereas in patients with unilateral deafness VEMPs were unchanged. These data strongly suggest that VEMPs were generated by stimulation of vestibular end-organ. VEMPs are highly objective, simple, secure and comfortable technique to assess the vestibulo-spinal connections.