Vestibular and Postural Function in an Unselected Group of Children With Sensorineural Hearing Loss

The goal of this prospective cohort study is to investigate the vestibular function in children with unilateral or bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The main hypothesis of the study is that abnormal vestibular test results will be found in 20-30 % of the children with sensorineural hearing loss. The participants will be children in the age of 3-10 years with sensorineural hearing loss. The test protocol consists of questionnaires and vestibular and postural assessments.

Inclusion Criteria: * Children in the age of 3-10 years * Uni- or bilateral sensorineural hearing loss \> 20 dB bone conduction pure tone average measured at frequencies 0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz * Written informed consent from the parents. Exclusion Criteria: * Previous inner ear surgery * Visual impairment to such a degree that the child is not able to maintain fixation on a dot one meter away. * Congenital nystagmus * Compromised eye muscle mobility * VEMP-electrode allergy * History of symptomatic head or neck trauma * Prescription of medicine which alters vestibular outputs (for instance sedative antihistamines)