Development of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in early life

Objective: This study applied vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test in full-term newborns younger than 2 weeks, to investigate the development and maturation of the sacculo-collic reflex in early life. Methods: A total of 45 full-term newborns were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 35 newborns aged 2-5 days and group B included 10 newborns aged 6-13 days. During natural sleep, each newborn underwent distortion product otoacoustic emission test, followed by VEMP test without sedation. Results: The response prevalence of VEMPs increases from day 2 to S. The p13 peak latency is delayed at day 3, yet falls subsequently by day 5 and remains stable thereafter, with a mean latency of 13.3 +/- 0.8 ms. Conclusions: The majority of healthy full-term newborns demonstrate VEMPS by day 5, with a mean p13 latency of 13.3 0.8 ms. This criteria can be used to evaluate the development and maturation of the sacculo-collic reflex in newborns, which is responsible, at least in part, for detecting changes in head position in relation to gravity. (C) 2008 European Paediatric Neurology Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.