Effects of Age on the Frequency Tuning of the cVEMP and oVEMP

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to define for young, middle age, and elderly subjects the best frequency(cies) to record both the cVEMP and the oVEMP. An additional objective of this study is to describe the age related changes in the frequency tuning of both the cVEMP and oVEMP. Our hypothesis is that damage to the saccule or utricle, as a result of aging, would alter the resonant frequency of the end organ thus altering the frequency tuning characteristics of the vestibular system. Our results show that there are no significant differences in VEMP amplitude evoked by a 500 Hz, 750 Hz, and 1000 Hz air conduction tone bursts for our subjects. Our findings also show that aging results in an overall “flattening” or loss of frequency tuning in older adults for the cVEMP, but not the oVEMP. Additionally, the frequency tuning of both the cVEMP and oVEMP shifts to a higher frequency in the older adult group compared to the middle age and young adult groups. Accordingly, for dizzy patients over the age of 60 years, a 500 Hz air conduction tone burst may not be the ideal frequency to elicit a VEMP response. We recommend using a stimulus frequency of 750 Hz or 1000 Hz in this population.