NORMAL VALUES OF VESTIBULAR EVOKED MYOGENIC POTENTIALS IN CHINESE HEALTHY MALE MILITARY PILOTS

Background : Vestibular function is essential to pilots. But for now there are little method to evaluate otolith function in pilots.Quite recently vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test has been introduced to evaluate the saccule and the inferior vestibular nerve function. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the parameters of VEMP in Chinese Air Force fighter pilots so as to establish its normative data for Chinese Air Force pilots. Methods: One hundred and twenty-six healthy Chinese Air Force active-duty fighter pilots were recruited as study participants. VEMP of 126 subjects were recorded bilateral during short tone burst stimulation. The latencies of p13 and n23, p13/n23 amplitude, and asymmetry ratio of VEMPin healthy pilots were collected for calculating normative date. Results: All tests showed reproducible VEMP waveforms. The latencies of p13 and n23,p13/n23 amplitude,and asymmetry ratio of VEMP in healthy pilots (13.50±1.20) ms, (21.35±1.60) ms, (169.70±38.50) μV,and 0.12±0.11 respectively. Conclusions: The present study have established the normal values of VEMP in military pilots,which is crucial for the application of VEMP in military pilots.