Clinical consensus on vestibular infant screening

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Neuroscience
• Audiology

Background:

• Vestibular dysfunction frequently co-occurs with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children.
• Untreated vestibular dysfunction significantly impacts early childhood development.
• Standardized protocols for vestibular infant screening (VIS) are currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• Establish a clinical consensus on VIS for infants aged 0-12 months.
• Develop standardized protocols for early identification and management of vestibular dysfunction.
• Address the critical need for early detection due to its impact on development.

Main Methods:

• A multi-round Delphi process involving 28 international experts in pediatric otolaryngology and vestibular disorders.
• A comprehensive literature review from 2000-2024 informed the consensus statements.
• Consensus achieved through anonymous rating, feedback, virtual discussions, and ≥80% agreement on statements.

Main Results:

• Consensus reached on key recommendations for VIS in infants.
• Recommendations cover four critical domains: screening tool, target population, optimal timing, and cVEMP recording protocols.
• Standardized cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) recording protocols were defined.

Conclusions:

• This consensus provides foundational guidance for implementing standardized VIS protocols in infants.
• Standardized protocols are advocated to improve early diagnosis and intervention for vestibular dysfunction.
• Widespread adoption can enhance developmental outcomes through timely detection and management.