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The risk factors identified provide useful epidemiologic information about dizziness and balance problems in children and will be used in tracking the Healthy People 2020 goal to increase utilization of healthcare services for these children.

INTRODUCTION:The effect of vestibular dysfunction since birth is more debilitating than that attained later in life, and unlike adults, children with vestibular dysfunction since or shortly after birth do not recover function without intervention. PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the etiology of vestibular dysfunction in children as well as the related impairments, and to describe testing methods and evidence based interventions to ameliorate the vestibular related impairments in children. SUMMARY: In recent years, investigations have revealed that vestibular dysfunction is more common in children than previously thought, with consequent impairments in motor development, balance and reading abilities. The dysfunction may be due to central or peripheral lesions, each with distinct presentation of symptoms and test results. Common etiologies and clinical presentation of vestibular dysfunction in children are reviewed; appropriate screening and diagnostic techniques and efficacious medical and rehabilitation interventions are presented. CONCLUSION: Despite advances in clinical and diagnostic testing of vestibular function in children and infants, testing of vestibular function is not typically done. Comprehensive testing of signs and symptoms is critical for diagnosis and implementation of appropriate interventions.

Gross motor development, and the effect of age, sex and vestibular function on it, was examined in 39 24- to 83-mo.-old children with sensorineural hearing impairment. Repeated testing was completed on 18 children. Delayed gross motor development was evident regardless of age, but only children less than 5 years of age had developmental balance deficits on initial testing. Both gross motor and balance development scores were lower on repeated testing. Furthermore, vestibular function scores facilitated identification of those children with a deficit in balance development as well as those with a progressive delay in motor or balance development. Implications for practice are discussed.