High-frequency semicircular canal deficit affects postural control in hearing-impaired children

P Reynard1, E Ionescu2, N Goulème3

  • 1Service d'audiologie et explorations otoneurologiques, CHU Édouard-Herriot, Lyon, France; Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France; Paris Hearing Institute, Institut Pasteur, Inserm U1120, Paris, France.

Insights

Children with sensorineural hearing loss and a vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) deficit showed better postural control. Posturography can help screen for semicircular canal deficits in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Vestibular system function
  • Auditory system disorders
  • Human motor control

Background:

  • Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) can affect vestibular system development and function.
  • The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) is crucial for stabilizing gaze during head movements.
  • Vestibular deficits may impact postural control (PC) in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the impact of VOR gain deficit on PC in children with SNHL.
  • To investigate the utility of posturography in identifying vestibular deficits in hearing-impaired children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 55 children (4-17 years) with SNHL.
  • Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) to assess semicircular canal function.
  • Balance Quest posturographic platform for sensory organization testing.

Main Results:

  • Children with SNHL and VOR deficit demonstrated significantly better spatial and temporal postural control parameters.
  • Improved postural control was observed in the optokinetic with unstable platform (OKN-U) condition.
  • Specific parameters like center of pressure oscillation area and mean speed, and spectral power index were analyzed.

Conclusions:

  • Posturographic assessment in the OKN-U condition can effectively screen for semicircular canal deficits in hearing-impaired children.
  • A VOR deficit appears to be a predictor of postural control deficits in this population.
Abstract

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