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Published on: April 18, 2019
Clinical use of child-friendly video head impulse test in dizzy children
1Department of Audiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
The video head impulse test (vHIT) can quickly screen high-frequency vestibular function in dizzy children. Inner ear malformations and unsteadiness were common causes and symptoms, respectively.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Vestibulometry
- Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Dizziness in children presents diagnostic challenges.
- Accurate assessment of vestibular function is crucial for pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate high-frequency vestibular function in children using a child-friendly video head impulse test (vHIT).
- To classify vestibular symptoms in dizzy children according to standard nomenclature.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from 40 dizzy children (mean age 7.30 ± 4.75 years).
- Utilized a remote camera video head impulse test (vHIT) for vestibular assessment.
Main Results:
- Reduced vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gains were observed in 35% of children.
- Inner ear malformation (15%) was the most frequent cause, and unsteadiness (25%) the most common symptom.
- Two children exhibited severe VOR gain reduction without corrective saccades.
Conclusions:
- The vHIT with a remote camera is a valuable tool for screening high-frequency VOR in dizzy children, particularly those with inner ear malformations and unsteadiness.
- Clinical interpretation of vHIT data in pediatric populations requires careful consideration.
Objective:
To investigate the high-frequency vestibular functions using a child-friendly video head impulse test and to classify vestibular symptoms using a standard nomenclature guideline in dizzy children.
Materials And Methods:
The video head impulse test with a remote camera was used in this study. The data of 40 dizzy children (7.30 ± 4.75 years) were analyzed retrospectively.
Results:
The high-frequency vestibulo-ocular reflex gains of 14 (35%) dizzy children in the study group were reduced, whereas the vestibulo-ocular reflex gains of 26 (65%) dizzy children were normal. Two of them had a dramatic reduction in vestibulo-ocular reflex gains on their affected SCCs, but no corrective saccades as their gazes had not been fixated on the target at the onset of head impulses. In dizzy children, the most common cause was inner ear malformation (15%) and the most common vestibular symptom was unsteadiness (25%).
Conclusion:
The high-frequency vestibular function of the VOR in dizzy children, especially those suffering from IEM and unsteadiness, can be quickly screened using the vHIT device with the remote camera. However, clinicians should be careful during the interpretation of traces in the pediatric group.
