The Relationship Between Hypotonia and Vestibular Dysfunction in Young Children: A Scoping Review

To explore the prevalence and characteristics of infantile idiopathic hypotonia in the literature and investigate a potential association with vestibular dysfunction in young children.

A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) standards. Literature was searched across MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Google Scholar, GreyNet International, and trial registers were searched for grey literature. Eligible articles were required to report features of children with idiopathic hypotonia or a predefined synonym.

Of 4,174 screened articles, 16 met the inclusion criteria. Eleven studies focused on various underlying causes of hypotonia and comprised 1150 hypotonic children, of which 24% remained undiagnosed. The remaining studies delved into the characteristics of idiopathic hypotonic children and described different developmental challenges in these children.

Clumsiness and poor coordination were commonly reported, and therapy, aiming to enhance muscle strength, coordination, and balance, was often recommended, yet none of the included articles explored vestibular dysfunction. Conclusion Despite diagnostic advancements, the underlying cause of hypotonia remains unidentified in some children. While similarities exist between hypotonic children and children with vestibular dysfunction, none of the reviewed studies explored vestibular dysfunction, warranting further investigation.