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Van Hecke R, Deconinck FJA, Danneels M, Dhooge I, Uzeel B, Maes L. A Clinical Framework for Video Head Impulse Testing and Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential Assessments in Primary School-Aged Children. Ear Hear 2024; 45:1216-1227. [PMID: 38632676 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to offer normative data and age trends of an age-appropriate vestibular test protocol in a large group (n = 140) of school-aged children (6 to 13 years old) as well as to provide a practical and clinical framework for accurate performance and interpretation of vestibular test results in this specific age group. DESIGN The typically developing participants (mean age of 9.51 ± 2.04 years) were recruited to provide a representative group of 20 children for each of the seven age groups that were composed of children aged from 6 to 13 years in 1-year intervals. Each age group consisted of 10 boys and 10 girls. The protocol comprises the video head impulse test, and cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential assessments to provide a child-friendly, noninvasive, short, and portable test battery, which is equally applicable in the hospital and office-practice, and which provides information on the integrity of all five parts of the peripheral vestibular system. RESULTS The study demonstrates that all included tests and methods, with an overall test duration of 25 min 12 sec ± 5 min 10 sec, were feasible to perform in primary school-aged children, taking into account some practical adaptations. Concerning the video head impulse test, no clinically relevant sex and age effects were noted. However, t tests revealed significant differences for the mean gain of the horizontal (right > left; t [139] = 14.563; p < 0.001) and posterior semicircular canals (left > right; t [139] = -4.823; p < 0.001) between both sides. For the cVEMP assessment, no laterality differences were observed for any of the parameters, but a significantly shorter N1 latencies in the youngest age categories (<8 years), compared with the oldest groups were observed [ F (6,118) = 8.336; p < 0.001; partial ƞ ² = 0.298]. For all oVEMP parameters, no laterality, sex, or age differences were seen. On the basis of the presented normative data, cutoff criteria were proposed with accompanying clinical recommendations to perform vestibular function testing in this target population. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study in a large group of school-aged children offering normative data and age trends of an age-appropriate vestibular test protocol that evaluates the integrity of all parts of the peripheral vestibular organ. The reported normative values and clinical cutoff values will enable appropriate and age-specific interpretation of clinical and scientific results. Moreover, in combination with extensive history taking, and additional vestibular testing (e.g., rotatory chair test, caloric testing) when needed, the results of this study may support clinicians in the diagnosis of side-specific and location-specific vestibular deficits, which is required for accurate counseling and referral for further follow-up and/or intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Van Hecke
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Maya Danneels
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ingeborg Dhooge
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bo Uzeel
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Leen Maes
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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Hwa TP, Patel V, Field E, Windsor A, Spencer LM, Caine M, O'Reilly RC. Asymmetric Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Pediatric Vestibular Migraine. Otol Neurotol 2023; 44:578-583. [PMID: 37185160 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000003865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP) abnormalities have been associated with vestibular migraine (VM) in adults, no studies have evaluated this in pediatric patients with VM. oVEMP asymmetry with normal cervical VEMP (cVEMP) findings may be a reliable VM biomarker in adults. We characterize VEMP results among pediatric patients with VM and benign recurrent vertigo of childhood (BRVC), a migraine precursor, and compare these results with VEMP findings from pediatric patients with nonmigrainous vestibular diagnoses. METHODS Four hundred seventy-four pediatric patients were evaluated over a 3-year period in a multidisciplinary pediatric vestibular clinic, 139 of whom met the inclusion criteria. Records were reviewed for history, audiometry, and vestibular testing results. VEMP testing was performed with a 500-Hz tone burst. Based on adult normative data, oVEMP asymmetry was defined as greater than 33% interaural difference; cVEMP asymmetry was defined as greater than 41%. RESULTS Eighty subjects had VM or BRVC (mean [standard deviation] 12.8 [3.8] yr; range, 4.3-18.2 yr). Fifty-nine subjects received vestibular diagnoses other than VM or BRVC (nonmigrainous group; mean [standard deviation] age, 13.0 [3.6] yr; range, 5.14-18.9 yr). A greater proportion of the VM/BRVC group demonstrated oVEMP asymmetry with normal cVEMP as compared with the nonmigrainous group (22.5% versus 10.1%; p < 0.05). Zero subjects in the VM/BRVC group demonstrated cVEMP asymmetry versus three subjects (4.9%) of the nonmigrainous group. CONCLUSIONS VM and BRVC are notable causes of migraine-related vertigo among pediatric patients. Of VM/BRVC patients, 22.5% had oVEMP asymmetry with normal cVEMP. Similar to the adult VM population, this finding may be a useful biomarker in the right clinical setting for pediatric VM. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Erin Field
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
| | - Alanna Windsor
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Lyndsey M Spencer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
| | - Melissa Caine
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
| | - Robert C O'Reilly
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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Martens S, Dhooge I, Dhondt C, Vanaudenaerde S, Sucaet M, Rombaut L, Maes L. Pediatric Vestibular Assessment: Clinical Framework. Ear Hear 2023; 44:423-436. [PMID: 36534710 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although vestibular deficits can have severe repercussions on the early motor development in children, vestibular assessment in young children has not yet been routinely integrated in clinical practice and clear diagnostic criteria to detect early vestibular deficits are lacking. In young children, specific adjustments of the test protocol are needed, and normative data are age-dependent as the vestibular pathways mature through childhood. Therefore, this study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of an extensive age-dependent vestibular test battery, to provide pediatric normative data with the concurrent age trends, and to offer a clinical framework for pediatric vestibular testing. DESIGN This normative study included 133 healthy children below the age of 4 years (mean: 22 mo, standard deviation: 12.3 mo, range: 5-47 mo) without history of hearing loss or vestibular symptoms. Children were divided into four age categories: 38 children younger than 1 year old, 37 one-year olds, 33 two-year olds, and 25 three-year olds. Children younger than 3 years of age were examined with the video Head Impulse Test (vHIT) of the horizontal semicircular canals, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP) with bone conduction stimuli, and the rotatory test at 0.16, 0.04, and 0.01 Hz. In 3-year old children, the vHIT of the vertical semicircular canals and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP) using a minishaker were added to the protocol. RESULTS The horizontal vHIT appeared to be the most feasible test across age categories, except for children younger than 1-year old in which the success rate was the highest for the cVEMP. Success rates of the rotatory test varied the most across age categories. Age trends were found for the vHIT as the mean vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain increased significantly with age (r = 0.446, p < 0.001). Concerning the cVEMP, a significant increase with age was found for latency P1 (r = 0.420, p < 0.001), rectified interpeak amplitude P1-N1 (r = 0.574, p < 0.001), and averaged electromyographic (EMG) activity (r = 0.430, p < 0.001), whereas age trends for the latency N1 were less pronounced (r = 0.264, p = 0.004). Overall, the response parameters of the rotatory test did not show significant age effects ( p > 0.01), except for the phase at 0.01 Hz (r = 0.578, p < 0.001). Based on the reported success rates and age-dependent normative vestibular data, straightforward cutoff criteria were proposed (vHIT VOR gain < 0.7, cVEMP rectified interpeak amplitude < 1.3, oVEMP interpeak amplitude < 10 µV) with accompanying clinical recommendations to diagnose early vestibular impairment. CONCLUSIONS In this large cohort of typically developing children below the age of 4 years, the vHIT and cVEMP were the most feasible vestibular tests. Moreover, the age-dependent normative vestibular data could specify age trends in this group of young children. Finally, based on the current results and clinical experience of more than ten years at the Ghent University Hospital (Belgium), a clinical framework to diagnose early vestibular deficits in young patients is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarie Martens
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ingeborg Dhooge
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Cleo Dhondt
- Department of Head and Skin, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Marieke Sucaet
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lotte Rombaut
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Leen Maes
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are short-latency muscle potentials measured from the neck (cervical VEMP; cVEMP) or under the eyes (ocular VEMP; oVEMP), which provide information regarding function of the saccule and utricle, respectively. VEMPs are reliable when performed in adults; however, reliability of VEMPs in children is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to determine the test-retest reliability of c- and oVEMP testing in normal control children. STUDY DESIGN Prospective. SETTING Hospital. PATIENTS Ten adults, 14 adolescent children and 13 young children with normal hearing. INTERVENTIONS c- and oVEMP testing were completed across two test sessions in response to air-conduction 500 Hz tone-burst and impulse hammer stimuli. Additionally, oVEMP was completed using eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the reliability of c- and oVEMP outcomes. RESULTS When using air-conduction stimuli, c- and oVEMP amplitudes are reliable across test sessions in normal control children and adults. With impulse hammer stimuli, cVEMP amplitudes showed high reliability; however, oVEMP amplitudes showed low reliability in both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Comparison between eyes-open and eyes-closed oVEMP conditions revealed shorter latencies and higher peak-to-peak amplitudes in the eyes-open condition. CONCLUSIONS In this small cohort of normal control children, cVEMPs are reliable using air-conduction and impulse hammer stimuli and oVEMPs are reliable using air-conduction stimuli in the eyes-open condition. oVEMP in eyes-closed conditions were less reliable compared with eyes-open conditions and resulted in a large number of absent responses.
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de Vargas Romero M, Mota HB, Nóro LA, Valentins Dos Santos Filha VA. Correlation between body balance exams and schoolchildren reading assessments. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2020; 137:110230. [PMID: 32896346 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2020.110230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to correlate the results in the body balance exams with the reading assessments of 27 students, 16 girls and 11 boys, students of the third year of public elementary school, whose average age was 8.21 years. METHODS Children with auditory, visual, language and nonverbal intelligence deficits were discarded. Body balance was evaluated with oculomotor tests of vectoelectronystagmography (VENG) and cervical and ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential. Reading of Isolated words, reading fluency and textual comprehension were evaluated. RESULTS The results obtained uniformly in most findings of the oculomotor tests showed no statistical difference between the right and left ear in the cervical and ocular VEMP, the reading of regular stimuli were statistically higher than the reading of irregular stimuli and pseudowords, there were no differences between the literal and inferential questions. Finally, a positive and significant correlation was found between vertical saccadic and irregular stimuli, and between horizontal pendular tracking and most reading evaluations. Ocular VEMP correlated with reading, except for inferential questions. CONCLUSION The main correlation between reading and VENG oculomotor tests was with horizontal pendular tracking, which evaluates the slow movement of the eyes in the horizontal direction, the same performed during reading. Correlation between ocular VEMP and reading was evidenced, indicating that the students with the best developed vestibular-ocular reflex presented better reading results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta de Vargas Romero
- Postgraduate Program Human Communication Disorders, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
| | - Helena Bolli Mota
- Postgraduate Program Human Communication Disorders, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Letícia Arruda Nóro
- Postgraduate Program Human Communication Disorders, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
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Dasgupta S, Ratnayake S, Crunkhorn R, Iqbal J, Strachan L, Avula S. Audiovestibular Quantification in Rare Third Window Disorders in Children. Front Neurol 2020; 11:954. [PMID: 33041966 PMCID: PMC7526203 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Third window disorders are structural abnormalities in the bony otic capsule that establish a connection between the middle/inner ear or the inner ear/cranial cavity. Investigated extensively in adults, they have hardly been studied in children. This study is a retrospective study of children (aged 5-17 years) diagnosed with rare third window disorders (third window disorders reported rarely or not reported in children) in a tertiary pediatric vestibular unit in the United Kingdom. It aimed to investigate audiovestibular function in these children. Final diagnosis was achieved by high resolution CT scan of the temporal bones. Of 920 children attending for audiovestibular assessment over a 42 month period, rare third windows were observed in 8 (<1%). These included posterior semicircular canal dehiscence (n = 3, 0.3%), posterior semicircular canal thinning (n = 2, 0.2%), X linked gusher (n = 2, 0.2%), and a combination of dilated internal auditory meatus/irregular cochlear partition/deficient facial nerve canal (n = 1, 0.1%). The majority of them (87.5%) demonstrated a mixed/conductive hearing loss with an air-bone gap in the presence of normal tympanometry (100%). Transient otoacoustic emissions were absent with a simultaneous cochlear pathology in 50% of the cohort. Features of disequilibrium were observed in 75% and about a third showed deranged vestibular function tests. Video head impulse test abnormalities were detected in 50% localizing to the side of the lesion. Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential test abnormalities were observed in all children in the cohort undergoing the test where low thresholds and high amplitudes classically found in third window disorders localized to the side of the defects in 28.5%. In the series, 71.4% also demonstrated absent responses/amplitude asymmetry, some of which did not localize to the ipsilesional side. Two children presented with typical third window symptoms. This study observes 2 new rare pediatric third window phenotypes and the presence of a cochlear hearing loss in these disorders. It emphasizes that these disorders should be considered as an etiology of hearing loss/disequilibrium in children. It also suggests that pediatric third window disorders may not present with classical third window features and are variable in their presentations/audiovestibular functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumit Dasgupta
- Department of Paediatric Audiology and Audiovestibular Medicine, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sudhira Ratnayake
- Department of Paediatric Audiology and Audiovestibular Medicine, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Rosa Crunkhorn
- Department of Paediatric Audiology and Audiovestibular Medicine, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Javed Iqbal
- Department of Paediatric Audiology and Audiovestibular Medicine, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Strachan
- Department of Paediatric Audiology and Audiovestibular Medicine, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Shivaram Avula
- Department of Paediatric Radiology, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Greenwalt NL, Patterson JN, Rodriguez AI, Fitzpatrick D, Gordon KR, Janky KL. Bone Conduction Vibration Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) Testing: Reliability in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults. Ear Hear 2020; 42:355-363. [PMID: 32701728 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000000925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Bone conduction vibration (BCV) vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) are clinically desirable in children for multiple reasons. However, no accepted standard exists for stimulus type and the reliability of BCV devices has not been investigated in children. The objective of the current study was to determine which BCV VEMP method (B-71, impulse hammer, or Mini-shaker) yields the highest response rates and reliability in a group of adults, adolescents, and children. It was hypothesized that the Mini-shaker would yield the highest response rates and reliability because it provides frequency specificity, higher output levels without distortion, and the most consistent force output as compared to the impulse hammer and B-71. DESIGN Participants included 10 child (ages 5 to 10), 11 adolescent (ages 11 to 18), and 11 young adult (ages 23 to 39) normal controls. Cervical VEMP (cVEMP) and ocular VEMP (oVEMP) were measured in response to suprathreshold air-conducted, 500 Hz tone bursts and 3 types of BCV (B-71, impulse hammer, and Mini-shaker) across 2 test sessions to assess reliability. RESULTS For cVEMP, response rates were 100% for all methods in all groups with the exception of the adult group in response to the impulse hammer (95%). For oVEMP, response rates varied by group and BCV method. For cVEMP, reliability was highest in adults using the Mini-shaker, in adolescents using the impulse hammer, and in children using the B-71. For oVEMP, reliability was highest in adults using the Mini-shaker, in adolescents using the Mini-shaker or impulse hammer, and in children using the impulse hammer. Age positively correlated with air-conducted oVEMP amplitude, but not cVEMP amplitude or cVEMP corrected amplitude. Age negatively correlated with all BCV VEMP amplitudes with the exception of cVEMP corrected amplitude in response to the Mini-shaker. CONCLUSIONS All BCV methods resulted in consistent cVEMP responses (response rates 95 to 100%) with at least moderate reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.5) for all groups. Similarly, all BCV methods resulted in consistent oVEMP responses (89 to 100%) with at least moderate reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.5) except for the B-71 in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Greenwalt
- The Ohio State University, Ohio, USA.,Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | | | - Amanda I Rodriguez
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.,University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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Bilodeau M, Jacobson GP, Roberts RA, Hatton K. Short Communication: The Belly-Tendon Derivation Yields Superior Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential Amplitudes in a Normal Pediatric Sample. Am J Audiol 2020; 29:88-93. [PMID: 31841353 DOI: 10.1044/2019_aja-19-00056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether the "belly-tendon" electrode derivation produced ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs) in children that were superior to those recorded with the infraorbital-chin electrode derivation. Method This was a prospective observational study using a sample of convenience at a tertiary care medical center. Subjects were 13 children between the ages of 5 and 12 years. We compared the latency of the N1 wave and the N1-P1 peak-to-peak amplitude for the belly-tendon electrode derivation to the infraorbital-chin electrode derivation. Results The belly-tendon electrode derivation was associated with superior N1-P1 amplitudes compared to the infraorbital-chin electrode derivation. However, the large amplitude was also associated with greater variability compared to the infraorbital-chin derivation. There were no significant electrode derivation-based differences in N1 latency. Additionally, there was no predictable relationship between age and oVEMP amplitude. Conclusion As shown previously in adults, the belly-tendon electrode derivation produces significantly larger oVEMP amplitudes compared to the infraorbital-chin electrode derivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Bilodeau
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Gary P Jacobson
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Richard A Roberts
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Kelsey Hatton
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
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