A Systematic Review on the Association Between Vestibular Dysfunction and Balance Performance in Children With...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric audiology
• Vestibular neurosciences
• Developmental pediatrics

Background:

• The vestibular system is crucial for balance, and dysfunction can cause unsteadiness in adults.
• The impact of vestibular dysfunction on balance in children with hearing loss is less understood.
• Hearing loss can be associated with vestibular impairments, affecting overall development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on the functional impact of vestibular dysfunction on balance control in children with hearing loss.
• To synthesize current research findings regarding the relationship between vestibular function and balance in this pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
• Included studies focused on children with hearing loss who underwent vestibular and balance testing.
• Risk of bias was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist.

Main Results:

• Seventeen out of 20 reviewed articles reported an association between vestibular dysfunction and balance abnormalities in children with hearing loss.
• Most studies exhibited a high risk of bias due to nonblinded designs and convenience sampling.
• Children with both hearing loss and vestibular impairment generally performed worse on balance tests.

Conclusions:

• Children with hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction tend to have poorer balance outcomes.
• Further research with standardized assessment methods is needed to fully characterize the population-level impact.
• Improved understanding can inform targeted interventions for balance deficits in children with hearing loss.