[Normal values of otolith function tests and age-related changes].

Objective:To explore the normal values of otolith function tests and agerelated changes in health volunteers.Method: One hundred and seventyone 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 discfovea 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 individual（P>0.05）. For cVEMP, the detection rate declined with age over 60 years old（P<0.01）; the cVEMP threshold increased with every 20 years old(P<0.05); and the cVEMP amplitude decreased with every 10 years old(P<0.05),however, there was an exception that no significant difference was found between 41-50 years old and 51-60 years old groups（P=0.93）;the cVEMP P1 latency prolonged with age over 70 years old（P<0.01）.For oVEMP, the detection rate also declined with age over 60 years old（P<0.01）; 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 old（P<0.01）; 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 groups（P<0.01）.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.