Clinical utility of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials elicited by chirp stimuli

Abstract

The research explores the clinical utility of chirp stimuli in eliciting cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (c&oVEMPs), with a focus on improving vestibular assessment protocols. Through a series of experimental studies, the dissertation evaluates response rates, waveform characteristics, test-retest reliability, and diagnostic accuracy for superior canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS). The findings reveal that the 500 Hz narrowband CE-Chirp stimulus produces higher response rates, shorter latencies, and greater amplitudes compared to broadband CE-Chirp, tone bursts, and clicks, positioning it as a more reliable alternative for VEMP testing. By demonstrating the advantages of chirp stimuli in enhancing response consistency and diagnostic precision, this research contributes to advancing clinical vestibular assessments and optimizing protocols for detecting vestibular dysfunction.