VEMP (Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential)                                     

 

A sound or vibration in one ear can generate a signal from part of the balance mechanism in the inner ear which can be measured by surface electrodes on the surface of the skin. Vemps measure the effect of this signal on one of the eye muscles (ocular Vemps) in each eye and on one of the neck muscles (cervical Vemps).

 

The inner ear has 2 normal openings called the oval window and the round window, however if there is another abnormal opening, called a dehiscence usually a superior canal dehiscence, which has not occluded spontaneously it can affect the inner ear function of hearing and balance. If there is an abnormal third opening which is still functional the measurements from the Vemp test will give an indication that a dehiscence is present. In such cases these results will need to be confirmed by CT scan of the inner ear.