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Published on: August 30, 2019
Bilateral vestibular hypofunction in children
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (ExpORL), KU Leuven, University of Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNS), Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Insights
Bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH) affects 23% of children with sensorineural hearing loss, significantly increasing the risk of motor developmental delay. Early vestibular screening is crucial for timely intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Audiology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Vestibular hypofunction in children can cause frequent falls and motor development delays.
- Bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH) presents the highest risk for these symptoms.
- Future therapies, such as vestibular implants, may help restore vestibular function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of BVH in pediatric patients.
- To identify the causes (etiology) of BVH in this population.
- To assess the impact of BVH on motor development and hearing status.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter retrospective chart review was conducted.
- 492 children with sensorineural hearing loss were analyzed.
- BVH was defined as at least one bilaterally abnormal vestibular test.
Main Results:
- BVH was identified in 23% of screened children.
- Syndromic (Usher, CHARGE, Waardenburg) and infectious (CMV, meningitis) causes were associated with higher BVH prevalence.
- 81% of children with BVH experienced motor developmental delay, rising to 97% when all vestibular tests were abnormal bilaterally.
Conclusions:
- Vestibular screening is recommended for children with sensorineural hearing loss due to the high prevalence of BVH.
- BVH significantly increases the risk of motor development delay, particularly in severe cases.
- Children with BVH may benefit from future interventions like vestibular implants.
Background:
Vestibular hypofunction in children can lead to frequent falls and delayed motor development. Especially children with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH) are most at risk for developing symptoms. These children might benefit from future therapies, like vestibular implants, to restore their vestibular system. This study aimed to describe the prevalence, etiology, motor development, and hearing status of pediatric patients with BVH.
Methods:
A multicenter retrospective chart review of 492 children with sensorineural hearing loss was performed. Children with at least one bilaterally abnormal vestibular test were defined as having a BVH.
Results:
BVH was found in 23 % of the screened children. Especially children with syndromic hearing loss like Usher, CHARGE, or Waardenburg syndrome and infectious etiologies like congenital CMV and meningitis, were prone to have BVH on all performed tests. Children with BVH had a high percentage of motor developmental delay (81 %), especially if all tests were abnormal on both sides (97 %).
Conclusion:
It is recommended to perform vestibular screening in children with sensorineural hearing loss, as BVH is prevalent. BVH has a very high risk of causing a delay in motor development. Especially in children with BVH on all vestibular tests, motor development is impaired. Those children might benefit from vestibular implants in the future.
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