Relation between cognitive skills and vestibular system in children: a cross-sectional study

Children with vestibular disorders face challenges related to postural balance and other aspects that may compromise cognitive skills and, consequently, the learning process.

To investigate the relationship between cognitive skills and the vestibular system in children.

This is an analytical, cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted with children aged six to 12 years. Cognitive skills were assessed using the Neupsilin-Inf - Brief Neuropsychological Assessment Instrument for Children. The vestibular system was evaluated through cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (cVEMP) and ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (oVEMP) tests. Data analysis was performed using the t-test for independent samples and the Mann-Whitney test.

The sample consisted of 38 children, of whom 55.3% were female and 47.7% were male, with a mean age of 8.7 years (±9). Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between cVEMP amplitude and perceptual skills (p = 0.039), as well as between oVEMP asymmetry and memory skills (p = 0.020) and executive functions (p = 0.031).

The findings suggest a possible association between the vestibular system and specific cognitive skills in children, highlighting the importance of integrated assessment of these functions from early childhood.