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The Relationship Between Hypotonia and Vestibular Dysfunction in Young Children: A Scoping Review
Lena Van den Bossche1, Leen Maes2,3, Frederic Acke1,3
1Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Insights
Infantile idiopathic hypotonia affects many children, with some cases remaining undiagnosed. Further research is needed to explore potential links between hypotonia and vestibular dysfunction in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Infantile idiopathic hypotonia (IIH) is a condition characterized by decreased muscle tone in infants.
- While diagnostic tools have advanced, a significant percentage of hypotonic children remain without a confirmed diagnosis.
- Commonly reported issues include clumsiness and poor coordination, often addressed with physical therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive scoping review of the literature on infantile idiopathic hypotonia.
- To explore the prevalence and characteristics of IIH in young children.
- To investigate a potential association between IIH and vestibular dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- A systematic scoping review was performed adhering to Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
- Extensive literature searches were conducted across major databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science) and grey literature sources.
- Articles reporting on children with idiopathic hypotonia or its synonyms were included.
Main Results:
- Out of 4,174 screened articles, 16 met the inclusion criteria.
- Eleven studies analyzed 1150 hypotonic children, revealing that 24% had undiagnosed conditions.
- The remaining studies detailed the characteristics and developmental challenges of children with idiopathic hypotonia.
Conclusions:
- Clumsiness and poor coordination are frequent in IIH, with therapy often recommended for muscle strength, coordination, and balance.
- Despite similarities in symptoms, no reviewed studies investigated vestibular dysfunction in relation to IIH.
- Further research is warranted to explore the potential link between infantile idiopathic hypotonia and vestibular dysfunction.
Objective:
To explore the prevalence and characteristics of infantile idiopathic hypotonia in the literature and investigate a potential association with vestibular dysfunction in young children.
Methods:
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.
Results:
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.
Discussion:
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.
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