Audiovestibular test battery approach in patients with vertigo

Abstract

All audiological tests are site-of-lesion tests and are used as a part of a test battery. Pure tone audiometry gives estimate of peripheral hearing status. Speech audiometry, acoustic reflex testing and auditory brain stem response differentiate cochlear and retrocochlear sites of lesion. Addition of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) and ocular VEMP to this battery can further differentiate between saccular vs utricular lesions and between lesions of inferior vs superior vestibular nerve. Overall, this battery of tests provides useful insights into the otoneurological diagnosis of vertigo. Few case examples are cited to elucidate the utility of audiovestibular test battery.