For Healthcare Professionals:
Vestibular hypofunctions in children often lead to falls and delayed motor development. A new multicenter study now shows how common bilateral failures (bilateral vestibular hypofunction– BVH) really are in children with hearing loss – and what consequences this has.
🔗 Loos E, Gerdsen M, Hazen M, et al. Bilateral vestibular hypofunction in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2025 Sep;196:112506.
Study design:
- Type: Multicenter, retrospective analysis of medical records.
- Participants: 492 children with sensorineural hearing loss.
- Method: BVH was defined by at least one abnormal bilateral vestibular test.
- Objective: To describe prevalence, causes, and effects on motor function and hearing.
Key results
- High prevalence: Bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH) was found in 23% of the children with hearing loss who were examined.
- Risk groups: Children with syndromic hearing loss (e.g., Usher, CHARGE, or Waardenburg syndrome) as well as those after infections (e.g., congenital CMV or meningitis) are particularly frequently affected.
- Motor development: 81% of children with BVH showed delayed motor development. If all tests performed were abnormal on both sides, the rate of motor developmental delay increased to 97%.
Clinical Relevance
- A vestibular screening should be standard for children with sensorineural hearing loss, as the prevalence of BVH is high.
- The more severe the vestibular deficit in the tests, the more likely it is to cause a marked motor impairment.
Conclusion for Practice
Bilateral vestibular loss in children is more common than previously thought and has a major impact on mobility. Early diagnosis is crucial to initiate therapeutic support and potentially enable innovative therapies such as implants.
Future outlook
These children could benefit greatly in the future from vestibular implants to restore the balance system.
👉 Are you interested in a comprehensive further training in vestibular rehabilitation, to help dizziness patients more quickly and safely?
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For parents & those affected – explained simply
When balance is missing: Why children with hearing loss often learn to walk later
If children fall frequently or start crawling and walking later than their peers, the causes are often first sought in neurology or orthopedics. But the cause can also lie in the inner ear (the balance organ). A recent study examined how often hearing loss and balance disorders occur together.
📄 Loos E, Gerdsen M, Hazen M, et al. Bilateral vestibular hypofunction in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2025 Sep;196:112506.
What does the new study show?
- Almost one in four children (23%) with hearing loss also has a bilateral weakness of the balance organs.
- Motor skills: The vast majority of affected children (81%) learn to sit, stand, or walk later.
- Causes: This occurs particularly often with certain genetic defects (syndromes) or after infections such as meningitis.
What does this mean for your child?
Healthy balance is the foundation for safe movement. If the organ in the ear does not function properly, the risk of developmental delays is very high.
What can you do?
- Test early: Have your child’s balance checked if hearing loss is present.
- Targeted support: Specialized balance training can help children catch up on motor delays.
- Hope through technology: In the future, “balance implants” could help children move through life more safely again.
🎯 Our IVRT®-certified dizziness and vestibular therapists support you: Find specialists for dizziness therapy in our IVRT therapist search