RESUMEN
Objective:To explore the normal values of otolith function tests and ageîrelated changes in health volunteers.Method: One hundred and seventyîone health volunteers were distributed to seven age groups, all subjects accepted otolith function tests, including fundus photography, static subjective visual vertical(SSVV), cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential(cVEMP)and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential(oVEMP), the fundus photographs was used to measure the discîfovea angle(DFA). DFA, SSVV and VEMPs were analyzed and compared among groups. Result: For DFA and SSVV,there were no significant differences either between different ages or between the two eyes in one individualï¼P>0.05ï¼. For cVEMP, the detection rate declined with age over 60 years oldï¼P<0.01ï¼; the cVEMP threshold increased with every 20 years old(P<0.05); and the cVEMP amplitude decreased with every 10 years oldî(P<0.05),however, there was an exception that no significant difference was found between 41-50 years old and 51-60 years old groupsï¼P=0.93ï¼;the cVEMP P1 latency prolonged with age over 70 years oldï¼P<0.01ï¼.For oVEMP, the detection rate also declined with age over 60 years oldï¼P<0.01ï¼; the oVEMP threshold was lowest at the age less than 30 years old and the largest threshold was found at the age over 70 years oldï¼P<0.01ï¼; consistently, the oVEMP amplitude was found largest at the age less than 20 years old and lowest at the age over 60 years old(P<0.05).The P1 and N1 latencies were found significantly longer in the group of over 70 years old than other groupsï¼P<0.01ï¼.No significant difference was found between both sides in one individual for oVEMP threshold,amplitude or latency (P>0.05). Conclusion: In health volunteers,there were no obvious aged related changes in DFA and SSVV. However,the detection rate, threshold, amplitude and latency of cVEMP and oVEMP greatly changed with age.