There is a high incidence of vestibular loss in children with cochlear implants (CCI). However, the relationship between vestibular loss and various outcomes is unknown in children. Objectives 1) determine if age-related changes in peripheral vestibular tests occur; 2) quantify peripheral vestibular function in children with normal hearing (CNH) and CCI; 3) determine if amount of vestibular loss predicts visual acuity and balance performance. Design Eleven CCI and 12 CNH completed the following tests of vestibular function: ocular and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) to assess utricle and saccule function, and the video head impulse test (vHIT) to assess semicircular canal function. The relationship between amount of vestibular loss and the following balance and visual acuity outcomes was assessed: dynamic gait index, single leg stance, the sensory organization test, and tests of visual acuity, including dynamic visual acuity and the gaze stabilization test. Results 1) There were no significant age-related changes in peripheral vestibular testing with the exception of the n23 cervical VEMP latency, which was moderately correlated with age; 2) CCI had significantly higher rates of vestibular loss for each test of canal and otolith function; 3) Amount of vestibular loss predicted performance on single leg stance, the dynamic gait index, some conditions of the sensory organization test, and the dynamic visual acuity test. Age was also a contributing factor for predicting the performance of almost all outcomes. Conclusions Preliminarily, children with vestibular loss do not recover naturally to levels of their healthy peers, particularly with activities that utilize vestibular input; they have poorer visual acuity and balance function.
Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine: (1) the relationship between vestibular loss severity and functional performance, (2) which functional performance outcomes best predict vestibular loss, and (3) which vestibular rate sensors (canals vs. otoliths) provide the most weighting during different functional measures.Study Design:Prospective.Setting:Tertiary referral center.Patients:Fifty-seven children with normal hearing (mean age: 12.3 years, 32 males) and 55 children with cochlear implants (mean age 12.8 years, 29 males).Intervention:Diagnostic.Main Outcome Measures:Video head impulse test, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP), ocular VEMP (oVEMP), single leg stance, Standing Balance Test, active and passive dynamic visual acuity, and the balance subtest of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2).Results:Performance worsened as vestibular loss severity worsened for all functional outcomes except the standing balance test conditions 1 and 2. The best outcomes for classifying children with vestibular loss were the single leg stance (cut-off criterion: 5 seconds; sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 86%) and the BOT-2 balance subtest (cut-off criterion of 27.5 points; sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 88%). Average horizontal canal vHIT gain was a significant predictor of all functional outcomes while neither corrected cVEMP amplitude nor oVEMP amplitude predicted performance.Conclusion:Functional performance declines as vestibular loss severity worsens. Single leg stance is fast and efficient for predicting vestibular loss in school age children. Average horizontal canal vHIT best predicts functional performance; if using a tiered approach, horizontal canal vHIT should be completed first.
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