Combined cervical and ocular : vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in cochlear implanted children

Background : cochlear implant is considered a surgically safe procedure. however, it has some risk on vestibular functions. objectives : evaluation of otolith function after unilateral cochlear implant surgery in children using combined cervical and ocular VEMPs. patients and methods : this study included forty-six children were divided into two groups : control group (GI) ; 20 healthy children with bilateral normal peripheral hearing, with no vestibular complaints. the other group, study group (GII) ; included 26 children fitted with unilateral cochlear implant. Arabic DHI questionnaire for children, vestibular office tests and combined cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (combined VEMPs) were done in the implanted side (GIIa) and non-implanted sides (GIIa). results : cervical VEMP was abnormal in (57.69%) in children of subgroup GIIa and in (30.76%) in children of subgroup GIIB. ocular VEMP was abnormal in (65.38%) in children of subgroup GIIA and in (61.53%) in children of subgroup GIIa. these abnormalities were in the form of ENT waves or delayed absolute latencies. conclusion : there were saccular and utricular affection after CI implant. this affection was higher on implanted side than non-implanted side.