Akdeniz Vertigo Center

VEMP Test

The VEMP test, or “Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential” test, is a diagnostic tool that provides information about the vestibular system in the inner ear.

Discover the True Cause of Your Vertigo!

Understanding the source of dizziness and problems with your balance is the first step towards the right treatment. Book your appointment for an individualized assessment with our team of experts and regain your health.

As part of vestibular evaluation, this test is particularly used to assess the functions of the saccule (a component of the balance organ in the inner ear) and the inferior vestibular nerve.

How the VEMP Test Works

The VEMP test is performed using stimuli such as sound or vibration. During the test, high-frequency sound waves are delivered to the ears, which stimulate the saccule and vestibular nerve. The reflex responses triggered in the muscles (typically the neck or eye muscles) are then measured. The VEMP test is divided into two main types:

  1. cVEMP (Cervical VEMP):
     Measures responses from neck muscles and evaluates the saccule and inferior vestibular nerve functions.
  2. oVEMP (Ocular VEMP):
     Measures responses from the muscles around the eyes and evaluates the utricle and superior vestibular nerve functions.

Importance of the VEMP Test in Vestibular Evaluation

The VEMP test is used to investigate the causes of vestibular symptoms such as dizziness, imbalance, and vertigo. It provides:

  • Evaluation of the otolith organs (saccule and utricle) in the inner ear.
  • Detection of functional impairments in specific branches of the vestibular nerves (inferior and superior).
  • Diagnostic support for vestibular disorders such as Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, otosclerosis, and superior canal dehiscence syndrome.

Unlike traditional hearing tests, the VEMP test gives detailed information about balance functions and is highly valuable for identifying damage or loss of function in specific areas of the vestibular system.

How the VEMP Test is Conducted?

1. Preparation Stage:

  • The patient is made comfortable in a quiet environment where external noise is minimized.
  • The areas where electrodes will be placed (face, neck, or around the eyes) are cleaned. Surface electrodes (small adhesive pads) are then attached.
  • For cVEMP (neck muscles), electrodes are placed over the neck muscles. For oVEMP (eye muscles), electrodes are placed around the eyes.

2. Starting the Test:

  • The patient wears headphones, and sound stimuli at specific frequencies and intensities are delivered through them.
  • These stimuli trigger reflex responses in the saccule or utricle of the inner ear. The response travels through the vestibular nerves to the muscles, generating short-lived electrical activity.
  • This electrical activity is recorded from the neck muscles (cVEMP) or the eye muscles (oVEMP).

3. Measurement and Analysis:

  • During the test, electrodes measure the reflex responses in the muscles caused by sound stimuli.
  • These responses are recorded as waveforms on a computer for analysis.
  • The characteristics of the waveforms, such as amplitude, symmetry, and shape, are evaluated. Absent or abnormal responses may indicate a dysfunction in the vestibular system.

When is the VEMP Test Used?

The VEMP test is particularly useful in evaluating the following conditions:

  1. Meniere’s Disease:
     In this condition, which involves disrupted fluid balance in the inner ear, cVEMP can evaluate saccule function. Saccule damage, common in Meniere’s disease, often alters VEMP responses.
  2. Vestibular Neuritis:
     This inflammation of the vestibular nerve can be assessed using oVEMP, which evaluates utricle and superior vestibular nerve function.
  3. Superior Canal Dehiscence (SCD) Syndrome:
     A condition caused by bone thinning in the superior semicircular canal. This syndrome often presents with hypersensitivity, and VEMP helps in its diagnosis.
  4. Otosclerosis:
     An abnormal bone growth in the inner ear, where the VEMP test can indicate how balance functions are affected.

Interpreting VEMP Test Results

  • Normal Response:
    A recorded waveform indicates a healthy vestibular system. Symmetrical responses in both ears are particularly important.
  • Weak or Absent Response:
    If no electrical response is detected or if the response is significantly weak, it may suggest a loss of function in the relevant vestibular structure (e.g., saccule or utricle).
  • Asymmetrical Responses:
    Significant differences between the responses of the right and left ears can indicate an issue with one side of the vestibular system.

After the VEMP Test

The VEMP test is typically quick and painless. While the patient may feel mild discomfort during the procedure, there are no lasting side effects after the test. Based on the results, an ENT specialist can provide a diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment options.

google
Serap Ince
May 12, 2025
google
Özgür Şanver
April 16, 2025
google
Kamile Yağcı
April 16, 2025
google
Esma Yılmaz
April 13, 2025
google
Hatice Yılmaz
April 3, 2025
google
yasar yılmaz
March 27, 2025
google
hazar yılmaz
March 27, 2025
google
Fatma Kılıç
March 18, 2025
google
Samet Bayar
March 12, 2025
google
Ecem Taş
March 11, 2025
google
suna csray
February 10, 2025
google
Mehmet Ali Emirdar
February 5, 2025
google
sümeyra gültekin
February 5, 2025
google
Bedirhan Çelik
January 31, 2025
google
Ömer Kahraman
January 21, 2025
google
Gulfidan Cansu
January 10, 2025
google
Sude ÇETİNKAYA
January 6, 2025
google
Özlem YILMAZ
January 4, 2025
google
Samet Şahin
January 4, 2025
google
şükrü erkara
December 10, 2024
google
Nur ÜRPER
December 6, 2024
google
Sümeyye ÖZKAN
November 13, 2024
google
cigdem topcuoglu
November 12, 2024
google
mesut Engindeniz
November 12, 2024
google
Selda çetin
November 12, 2024
google
murat çakır
November 12, 2024
google
Ali Erbütlü
November 9, 2024
google
İsmail Akdut
November 9, 2024
google
Seda Ozdem
November 9, 2024
google
Sedat Polat
October 18, 2024
google
pınar hakimoğlu
October 16, 2024
google
Osman Solmaz
October 2, 2024
google
Oktay Polat
September 24, 2024
google
furkan bolat
September 21, 2024
google
Zeynep HERDEM
September 5, 2024
google
yoe
August 30, 2024
google
Özlem Rüstem
August 29, 2024
google
Leylan Caglayan
July 18, 2024
google
Berin Irmak
July 10, 2024
google
yahya sahin
July 5, 2024
google
Makbule Solak
May 27, 2024
google
google
Hatice Tüfekçi
May 23, 2024
google
ali demir
May 23, 2024
google
google
google
Işıl İPEK
May 22, 2024
google
Davut Yiğit
May 14, 2024
google
ezgi il
May 10, 2024
google

Fill out the form and

we will call you

Discover the True Cause of Your Vertigo!

Understanding the source of dizziness and problems with your balance is the first step towards the right treatment. Book your appointment for an individualized assessment with our team of experts and regain your health.