# Vestibular Function in Long-Term Hearing Aid Users: A Preliminary Investigation

## TL;DR

This study found no significant impact of long-term hearing aid use on vestibular function, based on tests comparing users and non-users.

## Contribution

It is the first preliminary investigation examining the effect of prolonged high-power hearing aid use on peripheral vestibular function.

## Key findings

- No significant group differences were observed in most VEMP and vHIT parameters.
- Regression analyses showed no significant association between hearing aid use duration and vestibular function.
- Only a minor difference was found in the latency of P1 of the cVEMP in the left ear.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study compared vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) and video head impulse test (vHIT) findings between long-term hearing aid users and non-users with moderately severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) to investigate whether prolonged use of high-power hearing aids has any effect on the functioning of peripheral vestibular organs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the audiology clinic of a tertiary care hospital. Using convenience sampling, 67 adults aged 20–64 years who visited for hearing evaluation or hearing aid services were recruited and allocated into hearing aid user and non-user groups. VEMP latency and amplitude and vHIT vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain values were compared between groups. Multiple linear regression was performed to examine the association between the duration of hearing aid use and vestibular function. Results: No significant group differences were observed for any VEMP or vHIT parameter, except for the latency of P1 of the cVEMP in the left ear. Regression analyses indicated that the duration of hearing aid use was not significantly associated with any vestibular test measure. Conclusions: Long-term use of high-power hearing aids does not appear to be associated with measurable alterations in vestibular function. Nonetheless, longitudinal studies with improved control of confounding variables are recommended to validate these preliminary findings.