Efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation program in children with balance disorders and sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

Objective: Asses the efficacy of a Vestibular-balance rehabilitation program to minimize or reverse balance disability in children with sensorineural hearing loss.

Method: Forty-five hearing-impaired children with balance deficits (i.e., variable degrees of sensorineural hearing loss or auditory neuropathy). Thirty-five were rehabilitated with cochlear implants, and ten with hearing aids. Their age ranged from 4 to 10 years old. A Pre-rehab evaluation was done using questionnaires, neuromuscular evaluation, vestibular and balance office testing, and vestibular lab testing (using cVEMP and caloric test). Customized balances, as well as vestibular rehabilitation exercises, have been applied for three months. That was followed by post-rehab assessment, including the Arabic DHI questionnaire, PBS, BESS, HTT, and DVA test.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference in all measured parameters (including the Arabic DHI questionnaire, PBS, BESS, HTT, and DVA test) after rehabilitation.

Conclusions: Vestibular-balance rehabilitation intervention positively impacts vestibular and balance functions in hearing-impaired children.

Keywords: Balance error scoring system (BESS); Cervical vestibular Evoked Myogenic potentials (VEMP); Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI); Head thrust test (HTT); Pediatric balance scale (PBS); Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL); VOR (vestibulo-ocular reflex); VORS (vestibulo-ocular reflex suppression); VSR (vestibulo-spinal reflex) and dynamic visual acuity test (DVA).