Relationship between acquisition of motor function and vestibular function in children with bilateral severe hearing loss

Conclusions: When vestibular function is reduced in the rotational chair test in children with severe hearing loss, the vestibular function may be acquired later due to maturing vestibular sensory cells and vestibular nerve of the inner ear along with physical growth. Objectives: To examine the relationship between acquisition of motor function and vestibular function in children with bilateral severe hearing loss. Methods: A total of 97 children under 4 years old with hearing loss defined as a hearing threshold of both ears greater than 80 dB were included in this study. For evaluation of vestibular function, a damped-rotational chair test was performed and the horizontal nystagmus was recorded using electronystagmography (ENG). Results: Head control and independent walking were delayed in 28 of 97 children with severe hearing loss. Reduced response to the rotational chair test was observed in 16 of 97 children (16.5%), with 11 of these children having inner ear anomalies and reduced vestibular function. Of the 10 children who were followed up by the rotational chair test, 2 children with idiopathic congenital hearing loss without inner ear anomalies (100%) and 6 of 8 children with bilateral inner ear anomalies (75%) showed more obvious nystagmus during rotation compared with the initial examination.