Assessment of Balance Deficits in at Risk Pediatric Populations

Balance problems are prevalent in children at risk, occurring more often in children with hearing loss than in children reporting dizziness, and are more clearly associated with VOR than VCR impairments. Balance function should be assessed in children with hearing loss who are old enough to do the test. Vestibular testing, particularly assessment of the VOR, can be used in younger children to highlight the present as well as the potential for future balance problems.