Vestibular function in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: A neglected sense?

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pediatrics
• Audiology

Background:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) encompass a range of conditions affecting brain development.
• Vestibular system dysfunction can impact motor control, balance, and sensory processing.
• Understanding vestibular function in NDDs is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate vestibular system integrity in children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders.
• To compare vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) and video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) results between children with NDDs and a control group.
• To identify the prevalence of atypical vestibular responses in pediatric NDD populations.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving 28 children with NDDs (ages 6-13) and 28 age/sex-matched controls.
• Peripheral vestibular function assessed using ocular and cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (o/cVEMP) and video Head Impulse Test (vHIT).
• Motor competence evaluated using standardized assessments; results compared between groups.

Main Results:

• The NDD group exhibited significantly higher interpeak amplitudes on o/cVEMP and cVEMP tests (p < 0.001).
• No significant differences were observed in vHIT measurements between the NDD and control groups (p > 0.05).
• 39% of children with NDDs displayed atypical vestibular responses, including abnormal otolith amplitudes and vHIT correction saccades.

Conclusions:

• Significant alterations in vestibular function, particularly otolith pathways, are present in children with NDDs.
• Vestibular assessment should be considered in the clinical evaluation of children with NDDs, especially those with motor delays or balance issues.
• Recognizing potential vestibular involvement can guide targeted interventions and improve developmental outcomes.