A study was conducted to investigate vestibular dysfunction in normal preschool children with and without a history ofotitis media. Thirty-five preschoolers (age range 4 years, 2 months, to 5 years, 8 months) were assigned to an otitis media (OM) group (children with a history of6 or more episodes ofotitis media) or a no otitis media (NOM) group (children with no known episodes of otitis media), based on information obtainedfrom a parent questionnaire. The Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test (SCPNT) andfive tests from the Mtller Assessment for Preschoolers (MAP) (Stepping, Vertical Writing, Romberg, Walks Line, and Hand-Nose tests) were administered. Results showed that children with a history of otitis media had significantly decreased percentile rank scores on Stepping (deviation) (p<.OOl) and Vertical Wnting (p<.Ol), which measure vestibulospinal function. No significant dif ference wasfoundfor duration ofnystagmus as measuredby the SCPNT (p< .93). Clinicalimplications andsuggestions for further research are discussed. Jennifer Denning, MS, OTR, is Occupational Therapist, Austin Independent School District, Joslin PT/OT Itinerant Program,
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.