The Effect of Different Degrees of Sensorineural Hearing Loss on Vestibular Function in Children

Abstract

Background: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is expected to negatively affect the vestibular functions since the cochlea and the vestibular system are interconnected anatomically and physiologically. This study aimed to: (1) assess the vestibular functions in hearing-impaired (HI) children who have no symptoms of vestibular dysfunction (VD), (2) investigate a possible association between the severity of SNHL and the presence of VD. Methods: Sixty-sex children aged 6-18 years old and free of VD were included. Participants were divided into two groups (Control group: 33 normal hearing children, Study group: 33 HI children). HI children were divided into three subgroups (mild, moderate, severe-profound SNHL) for the purpose of the study. All children underwent a set of audiological and vestibular assessments including: pure tone audiometry, vedionystagmography (VNG), cervical and ocular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP, oVEMP) and video head impulse tests (vHIT). Results: In terms of the results of the VNG, no statistically significant difference was found between the control and study groups. However, a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in cVEMP and oVEMP latencies, amplitudes and asymmetry ratio and in the gain of vHIT. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between the 3 subgroups in cVEMP, oVEMP and vHIT revealing that the more the severity the HL, the more VD was identified. Conclusions: VD is prevalent in HI children. An association was found between the severity of SNHL and the presence of VD in children regardless of the absence of vestibular symptoms.