Abstract
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children occurs in 1 to 3% of live births and
acquired hearing loss can additionally occur. This sensory deficit has far reaching
consequences that have been shown to extend beyond speech and language development.
Thankfully there are many therapeutic options that exist for these children with the
aim of decreasing the morbidity of their hearing impairment. Of late, focus has shifted
beyond speech and language outcomes to the overall performance of children with SNHL
in real-world environments. To account for their residual deficits in such environments,
clinicians must understand the extent of their sensory impairments. SNHL commonly
coexists with other sensory deficits such as vestibular loss. Vestibular impairment
is exceedingly common in children with SNHL with nearly half of children exhibiting
vestibular end-organ dysfunction. These deficits naturally lead to impairments in
balance and delay in motor milestones. However, this additional sensory deficit likely
leads to further impairment in the performance of these children. This article focuses
on the following:
1. Defining the coexistence of vestibular impairment in children with SNHL and cochlear
implants.
2. Describing screening methods aimed at identifying vestibular dysfunction in children
with SNHL.
3. Understanding the functional implications of this dual-sensory impairment.
4. Exploring possible rehabilitative strategies to minimize the impact of vestibular
impairment in children with SNHL
Keywords
SNHL - cochlear implant - vestibular impairment - balance - equilibrium
