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Postural instability in children with severe inner ear malformations: Characteristics of vestibular and balance

Gorkem Ertugrul1, Gonca Sennaroglu1, Jale Karakaya2

  • 1Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

International Journal of Audiology
|September 5, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Children with severe inner ear malformations (IEMs) exhibit significant postural instability and impaired vestibular function. Labyrinthine deficiency severity directly impacts balance in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Otolaryngology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Severe inner ear malformations (IEMs) can profoundly affect auditory and vestibular pathways.
  • Understanding the impact of IEMs on postural stability is crucial for early intervention and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate postural instability and vestibular function in children with severe IEMs.
  • To compare these functions between children with IEMs, cochlear implant (CI) users, and healthy peers.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective case-control study involving 10 children with unilateral auditory brainstem implant (ABI) and IEMs.
  • Comparison with 10 unilateral CI users (normal inner ear) and 10 healthy controls.
  • Vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) gains, oVEMP, cVEMP, and BOT-2 balance scores were assessed with implants off.

Main Results:

  • ABI group showed significantly lower median VOR gains (0.05-0.15) compared to controls (≥0.90).
  • No oVEMP or cVEMP responses were detected in the ABI group.
  • Mean BOT-2 balance scores were dramatically lower in the ABI group (3.70) versus CI (9.40) and healthy (16.20) groups.

Conclusions:

  • Children with severe IEMs demonstrate greater postural instability than CI users and healthy children.
  • The extent of labyrinthine deficiency is a critical factor influencing postural stability in pediatric populations.
Abstract

Keywords:
Auditory brainstem implantbalanceinner ear malformationlabyrinthine aplasia

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