Evaluation of Saccular Function Pre-Post Cochlear Implant Surgery Using VEMPs

The aim of present study was evaluation of saccule function in cochlear implant candidates with severe to profound sensory neural hearing loss Before and after cochlear implantation.
In this study 35 cochlear implant (CI) candidates with bilateral severe to profound sensory neural hearing loss before and about 30 days after cochlear implant and 20 normal-hearing cases as a control group underwent VEMP test. Both groups were matched based on gender and age.
VEMP responses were absent bilaterally in 10 out of 35 patients. 4 patients were excluded from the study because they did not receive CI during present study. From 21 remaining patients, 5 cases lost VEMP responses in their implanted ear after surgery. In control group, VEMP responses were present bilaterally.
The results of present study indicate that saccule dysfunction in CI candidates is extremely probable and this is possible that saccule get impaired after CI.