Vestibular Assessments in Children With Global Developmental Delay: An Exploratory Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Vestibular Science
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Vestibular dysfunction can impact motor and cognitive development.
• Children with global developmental delay (GDD) may experience undiagnosed vestibular issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• Compare vestibular test results between children with GDD and typically developing (TD) children.
• Evaluate the test-retest reliability of three clinical vestibular tests in children with GDD.

Main Methods:

• Twenty children with GDD and 11 TD children were assessed.
• Tests included the Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (CTSIB), Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA), and modified Emory Clinical Vestibular Chair Test (m-ECVCT).
• Children with GDD completed two testing sessions.

Main Results:

• Abnormal Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) scores were observed in up to 33% of children with GDD.
• The CTSIB score was significantly lower in the GDD group.
• The modified Emory Clinical Vestibular Chair Test (m-ECVCT) and CTSIB demonstrated good test-retest reliability, while DVA showed fair reliability.

Conclusions:

• Vestibular involvement is suggested in children with GDD.
• Clinical vestibular tests offer moderate test-retest reliability for this population.