Multifactorial Characteristics of Pediatric Dizziness and Imbalance

Evaluation and diagnosis of pediatric patients with dizziness

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Children experiencing dizziness frequently go unevaluated or experience delays in correct diagnosis due to systemic and inherent barriers. While most causes of pediatric dizziness do not involve the peripheral vestibular system, otolaryngologists are frequently consulted for expert opinion. This study offers a broad overview of the leading causes of pediatric dizziness and imbalance to assist otolaryngologists with evaluating and managing this challenging population.

RECENT FINDINGS

Evaluation of children with dizziness should exclude serious central nervous system conditions. Approximately 70% of nonhazardous cases of pediatric dizziness are caused by migraine-related conditions, concussion, or functional disorders. Etiologies for peripheral vestibular dysfunction include inner ear malformations and vestibular disorders more commonly seen in adults. Audiometric and vestibular testing can provide helpful information, although correct diagnosis depends on a detailed history.

SUMMARY

Otolaryngologists should be familiar with the conditions that cause dizziness in children. While most underlying causes are outside their scope of practice, understanding possible etiologies can facilitate correct diagnosis and appropriate management.

Persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD) in pediatric patients after COVID-19 infection

BACKGROUND

Patients with long-COVID suffer from symptoms that continue or develop after a COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 infection and are present for four or more weeks after the initial infection. This case series describes a group of previously healthy adolescent patients with long-COVID who were seen in a pediatric vestibular clinic for evaluation of severe dizziness and were diagnosed with persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD). By presenting their symptoms, management and treatment effects, this study aims to provide a diagnostic and therapeutic framework for providers who encounter these patients.

METHODS

Patient records were reviewed for past medical history, symptoms, physical exam findings, results of audiometric and vestibular testing, dizziness handicap inventory for patient caregiver (DHI-pc) scores, and treatment recommendations. Parents of patients were contacted for a follow up survey to assess treatment adherence and outcomes including changes in symptoms and return to activity.

RESULTS

A series of 9 adolescent patients were referred from a multidisciplinary long-COVID clinic and diagnosed with PPPD. Recommended treatment included vestibular physical therapy, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The majority of patients experienced an improvement in their symptoms, and all patients had improved activity levels and DHI-pc scores after treatment.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, no previous reports exist discussing PPPD in long-COVID patients. This case series provides insight into symptom evolution and treatment efficacy in this patient population.

Vertiginous epilepsy in the pediatric population

Vertiginous epilepsy (VE) is a rare and underrecognized epilepsy subtype in the pediatric population. Vertiginous symptoms are the sole or predominant feature, arise from the vestibular cortex, and seizures are usually brief. The incidence is estimated to be between six and 15 percent of pediatric patients presenting with dizziness. Diagnosis is often delayed for many years following the onset of symptoms, as there are no widely accepted diagnostic criteria. Diagnostic work-up should include a detailed history, physical exam, EEG, and brain imaging with MRI. Vestibular testing is helpful if peripheral vestibulopathy is suspected. Vertiginous epilepsy can have many possible causes, but a large majority are idiopathic or suspected to be genetic. Most patients with vertiginous epilepsy achieve seizure freedom with anti-seizure medications.

Vestibular Preservation in Pediatric Cochlear Implantation

OBJECTIVES

Evaluate the rate of preserved vestibular function in pediatric cochlear implant surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case review.

METHODS

Pre- and post-operative vestibular tests were compared in children who underwent cochlear implantation at a tertiary level pediatric hospital over a 4-year period.

RESULTS

Data from 59 implanted ears in 44 children was included. Median age was 2.8 years at initial testing (range 7 months - 21 years) with 1:1 male/female ratio. Implant surgeries were 26 unilateral, 13 bilateral simultaneous, and 5 bilateral sequential. The majority were implanted with slim, non-styletted electrodes (86.4%) via a round window approach (91.5%). Normal pre-operative results were preserved post-operatively on rotary chair testing in 75% (21/28) of patients, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing in (75%) 30/40 of ears tested, ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing in 85.7% (6/7) of ears tested, video head impulse testing in 100% (9/9) of ears tested, and computerized dynamic posturography in 100% (5/5) of patients tested. Overall, 62.5% of patients had no new deficits on any vestibular test performed post-operatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Preservation rates of vestibular function following cochlear implant surgery were higher in this cohort than what has been reported in many earlier studies. Contemporary, less traumatic electrodes and insertion techniques may be a significant factor. The risk of causing a new, severe bilateral vestibular loss with long-term functional impacts appears to be low. Further study is warranted on the impacts of different cochlear implant electrode designs and insertion approaches on post-operative vestibular preservation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4, Case Series Laryngoscope, 134:1913-1918, 2024.

Instrumental Assessment and Pharmacological Treatment of Migraine-Related Vertigo in Pediatric Age

BACKGROUND

The most frequent form of vertigo in pediatric age is represented by vertigo linked to migraine, with a prevalence of 32.7%. This group of pathologies has received a redefinition of the diagnostic criteria to adapt them to the pediatric age with a new classification of the clinical pictures. We have several kinds of problems with these conditions that often have a significant impact on patients' and parents' quality of life: the diagnostic approach involves different tools for the different age groups contained in the pediatric range; the treatment of this type of vertigo is not consolidated due to the limited availability of trials carried out on pediatric patients. Focusing on this topic, the aim of this review was to provide an update on the more recent clinical advances in the diagnosis and treatment of Vestibular Migraine (VM) in children.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library databases for articles published in English from January 2015 to April 2023. The secondary search included articles from reference lists, identified by the primary search. Records were first screened by title/abstract, and then full-text articles were retrieved for eligibility evaluation. The searches combined a range of key terms ("Pediatric" AND "Childhood" AND "dizziness" OR "vertigo" AND "vestibular").

RESULTS

Migraine-related vertigo, in its most recent definitions and classifications, is the most frequent group of balance pathologies in pediatric age. The results from the various experiences present in the literature suggest a clinical approach to be integrated with the use of instrumental tests selected according to the age of the patient and the reliability of the results.

CONCLUSION

Knowing the timeline of the applicability of vestibular tests and the information that can be obtained from them is fundamental for diagnostic accuracy. Therapy is strongly conditioned by the limited availability of pediatric trials and by the wide range it includes, from very young children to adolescents.

Visual vertigo in children: Adaptation and validation of the visual vertigo analogue scale to European Portuguese

BACKGROUND

Visual vertigo occurs after vestibular and non-vestibular pathology and can be present in children and adolescents. It can be assessed by "the Visual Vertigo Analogue Scale" (VVAS), a questionnaire with a Portuguese version for adults.

OBJECTIVES

To perform the adaptation to pediatric age and validation of VVAS in European Portuguese.

METHODS

This prospective study involved the pediatric adaptation of the Portuguese VVAS, according to recognized guidelines. It was then completed by 30 healthy controls and 18 children with vestibulopathy. Patient caregivers also completed the Dizziness Handicap Inventory - Patient Caregivers (DHI-PC) to further explore the link between questionnaires. Groups were compared for severity of visual vertigo and VVAS test-retest reliability was tested.

RESULTS

The VVAS score was significantly higher in vestibular group (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found between VVAS initial and re-test scores (p = 0.33). VVAS severity scores showed a positive correlation with DHI-PC (r = 0.598, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

The present Pediatric adaptation of VVAS in European Portuguese shows good psychometric properties for the assessment of visual vertigo. A positive correlation with the DHI-PC was showed, establishing the potential use of both questionnaires in the evaluation of vertigo children.

Symptoms associated with headache in youth

OBJECTIVE

To determine the underlying relationships between a broad range of headache-associated symptoms and how they relate to headache burden.

BACKGROUND

Symptoms associated with head pain inform classification of headache disorders. However, many headache-associated symptoms are not included in the diagnostic criteria, which is largely based on expert opinion. Large symptom databases can assess headache-associated symptoms irrespective of pre-existing diagnostic categories.

METHODS

We conducted a large single-center cross-sectional study on youth (6-17 years old) assessing patient-reported outpatient headache questionnaires between June 2017 and February 2022. Multiple correspondence analysis, an exploratory factor analysis, was applied to 13 headache-associated symptoms.

RESULTS

6662 participants (64% female; median age 13.6 years) were included. Multiple correspondence analysis dimension 1 (25.4% of the variance) captured the absence or abundance of headache-associated symptoms. A greater number of headache-associated symptoms correlated with greater headache burden. Dimension 2 (11.0% of the variance) revealed three symptom clusters: (1) cardinal features of migraine (light, sound, and smell sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting), (2) nonspecific global neurologic dysfunction symptoms (lightheadedness, trouble thinking, blurry vision), (3) vestibular and brainstem dysfunction symptoms (vertigo, balance problems, ear ringing, double vision).

CONCLUSION

Assessing a broader range of headache-associated symptoms reveals clustering of symptomatology and a strong relationship with headache burden.

Vestibular dysfunction amongst adolescents: what do we know? A review

BACKGROUND

Vestibular dysfunction in children is a debilitating condition that results in countless pernicious effects, such as motor development delay, poor academic performance and psychosocial impairment. Yet, research pertaining to vestibular and balance disorders amongst adolescents is still lacking and remains an enigma.

METHODS

This paper outlines novel emerging aetiological factors contributing to vestibular dysfunction amongst adolescents by appraising published articles through a narrative review.

RESULTS

Underlying aetiological factors of vestibular dysfunction can be identified among adolescents with thorough evaluation. Proper diagnostic evaluation of vestibular dysfunction is imperative in providing optimal care and guiding appropriate treatment strategies. The available literature demonstrated multifactorial aetiological factors that contribute to vestibular dysfunction in adolescents.

CONCLUSION

Outlining the underlying aetiological factors of vestibular dysfunction is vital to ensure that patients receive appropriate care and treatment.

Etiological classification and management of dizziness in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Dizziness in children, which could not be diagnosed at an early stage in the past, is becoming increasingly clear to a large extent. However, the recognition of the diagnosis and management remains discrepant and controversial due to their complicated and varied etiology. Central and peripheral vestibular disorders, psychogenic and systemic diseases, and genetic pathogeny constitute childhood etiological entities. Further understanding of the etiology and the prevalence of vertigo disorders is of crucial importance and benefit in the diagnosis and management of pediatric patients.

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted by systematically searching Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, CNIK, the Chinese Wan-Fang database, CBM, the Chinese VIP database, and the Web of Science for literature on childhood vertigo disorders published up to May 2022. The literature was evaluated under strict screening and diagnostic criteria. Their quality was assessed using the Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality (AHRQ) standards. The test for homogeneity was conducted to determine the fixed effects model or random-effect model employed.

Results

Twenty-three retrospective cross-sectional studies involving 7,647 children with vertigo disorders were finally included, with an AHRQ score >4 (high or moderate quality). Our results demonstrated that peripheral vertigo (52.20%, 95% CI: 42.9-61.4%) was more common in children than central vertigo (28.7%, 95% CI: 20.8-37.4%), psychogenic vertigo (7.0%, 95% CI: 4.8-10.0%), and other systemic vertigo (4.7%, 95% CI: 2.6-8.2%). The five most common etiological diagnoses associated with peripheral vertigo included benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood (BPVC) (19.50%, 95% CI: 13.5-28.3%), sinusitis-related diseases (10.7%, 95% CI: -11.2-32.6%), vestibular or semicircular canal dysfunction (9.20%, 95% CI: 5.7-15.0%), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)(7.20%, 95% CI: 3.9-11.5%), and orthostatic dysregulation (6.8%, 95% CI: 3.4-13.0%). Vestibular migraine (20.3%, 95% CI: 15.4-25.2%) was the most seen etiological diagnosis associated with central vertigo in children. In addition, we found the sex-based difference influenced the outcome of psychogenic vertigo and vestibular migraine, while there was no significant difference in other categories of the etiology. For the management of vertigo, symptomatical management is the first choice for most types of vertigo disorder in pediatrics.

Conclusion

Complex etiology and non-specific clinical manifestations of vertigo in pediatrics are challenging for their diagnoses. Reliable diagnosis and effective management depend on the close cooperation of multiple disciplines, combined with comprehensive consideration of the alternative characteristics of vertigo in children with growth and development.

Evaluation and management of paediatric vertigo

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review summarizes the most current information on cause, evaluation and treatment of dizziness in children.

RECENT FINDINGS

There has been an increased understanding of the multifactorial cause of dizziness in the paediatric population. Quantitative vestibular testing is increasingly used and valuable as a diagnostic adjunct. Vestibular rehabilitation, migraine hygiene, psychological therapies, pharmaceuticals and/or surgery can be used as well tolerated and effective treatments for vertigo in children and adolescents when tailored to cause.

SUMMARY

Paediatric vertigo can be effectively evaluated through careful history taking and physical examination along with adjunctive tests, such as vestibular testing and audiometry, when appropriate. Options for treatment of vestibular disorders in children and adolescents have greatly expanded in recent years allowing for the effective management of nearly all cases of paediatric vertigo, though a multimodal and/or multidisciplinary approach is often needed.

Indicators of pediatric peripheral vestibular disorder: A retrospective study in a tertiary referral center

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to present characteristics of pediatric patients with peripheral vertigo and dizziness and their clinical workup results in the tertiary otorhinolaryngology center. We wanted to investigate whether the detailed history could replace the extensive vestibular testing and whether the clinical presentation could guide the first contact physician to appropriately directed specialist referral.

METHODS

Retrospective case review of consecutive pediatric vertigo and dizziness patients referred to the tertiary otorhinolaryngology center from 2015 to 2020. The data about the signs and symptoms of vertigo and dizziness and the results of audiological and vestibular tests were collected.

RESULTS

Of 257 children aged 10.9±4.3 years (R: 1-17 years), 32 (12.5%) had peripheral, and 49 (19%) had central vertigo and dizziness. Acute vestibulopathy was diagnosed in 22/257 (8.5%) children, sudden sensorineural hearing loss and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in 5/257 (2%) children each. 60% of children with peripheral vertigo and dizziness had emesis, and 55.6% had nausea. 8% of children had spontaneous horizontal-rotatory nystagmus that followed Alexander's law. Goodman and Kruskal's л for determining whether the type of nystagmus could predict the type of vertigo and dizziness (central or peripheral) was 0.481 (p = 0.001). 12/26 (60%) of children with peripheral vertigo and dizziness had emesis compared to 14 (30.04%) children without emesis, a difference in proportions of 0.296 (p = 0.024, chi-square test of homogeneity). Binomial logistic regression to ascertain the effects of duration, nausea and emesis on the likelihood of the presence of peripheral vertigo was statistically significant (χ2(3) = 10.626, p = 0.014).

CONCLUSION

Unlike adults, peripheral vestibular causes of vertigo and dizziness in children may be rare but have the same typical signs and symptoms. The detailed history and careful clinical examination are crucial in differentiating between peripheral and central causes. This guides the first contact physician for further referral to appropriate specialists included in a multidisciplinary workup. Namely, nausea, emesis, horizontal nystagmus and a longer duration of symptoms in a child with vertigo and dizziness indicate a peripheral etiology. Therefore, a referral to an otorhinolaryngologist is reasonable.

Auditory Manifestations of Vestibular Migraine

Objectives

To investigate the auditory features of patients with vestibular migraine (VM) and to analyze the possible relevant factors of hearing loss.

Methods

A total of 166 patients with VM were enrolled. Demographic variables, age of onset, disease course, distribution of vestibular attacks, characteristics of hearing loss, and the coexistence of related disorders, such as visual aura, familial history, motion sickness, nausea, headache, photophobia, otalgia, tinnitus, aural fullness, and phonophobia, were analyzed and compared.

Results

Patients with VM can manifest otalgia (8.4%), tinnitus (51.8%), aural fullness (41%), and phonophobia (31.9%). Of 166 patients, the prevalence of VMw was 21.1% (n = 35). Patients with VMw mainly manifested mild and easily reversible low-frequency hearing loss. The proportions of tinnitus and aural fullness were significantly larger in patients with VMw than that in patients with VMo (P < 0.05). The duration of vestibular symptoms was significantly shorter in patients with VMw (P < 0.05). However, the age of onset, disease course, gender, frequency of vestibular attacks, the coexistence of visual aura, familial history, motion sickness, nausea, headache, photophobia, otalgia, and phonophobia had no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusion

Auditory symptoms were common in patients with VM. The hearing loss of VM was characterized by a mild and easily reversible low-frequency hearing loss, accompanied by higher proportions of tinnitus and aural fullness, and a shorter duration of vestibular symptoms compared with patients with VMo.

Vertigo and Dizziness in Children: An Update

Background: Vertigo and dizziness are relatively infrequent in paediatric patients, but specific data on the prevalence of these disorders are limited and influenced by various factors, including the age of the examined population. These conditions often have a significant impact on patients’ and parents’ quality of life. The aim of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of different aetiologies of vertigo in the paediatric population through a systematic review. Methods: According to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review of the literature was performed. Medline and Embase were searched from January 2011 through to 10 September 2021. The search yielded 1094 manuscripts, which were reduced to 7 upon the application of inclusion criteria. Results: A total of 2470 paediatric patients were evaluated by the selected papers. Vestibular Migraine was the most frequently diagnosed condition, occurring alone or in association with other diseases. Overall, audio-vestibular disorders represented the second cause of vertigo, and the prevalence appears to increase according to age growth. Over the years, even though we assisted in the amelioration of diagnostic rates, partially related to an improvement in diagnostic tools, the aetiology of vertigo remains still unclear in a variable percentage of patients. Conclusion: Vertigo in children, despite being an uncommon symptom, requires a multidisciplinary approach, often involving Paediatricians, Neurologists and Otorhinolaryngologists. A comprehensive evaluation of children suffering from vertigo is crucial for establishing a successful therapy and reducing parental worries.

Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness in Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a recently defined diagnostic syndrome characterized by chronic symptoms of dizziness, unsteadiness, and/or non-spinning vertigo. Although PPPD has been studied in adults, reports in the pediatric population are few. The goal of this study was to describe the presentation and treatment of PPPD in a group of pediatric patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

≤21 years old, who met Bárány Society consensus criteria for a diagnosis of PPPD and were followed for ≥6 months or until symptom resolution.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESS

Patient demographics, comorbidities, symptom chronicity, and response to treatment(s).

RESULTS

Of the 53 patients identified, 44 (83.0%) were women. Mean age at the time of initial evaluation was 14.6 years old. Common diagnoses in addition to PPPD included benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (64.2%), vestibular migraine (56.6%), and anxiety (28.3%). A high proportion of patients (43.4%) reported initially missing school or work due to their symptoms. Eighteen patients (34.0%) reported symptom resolution ranging from 2 to 48 months after diagnosis (median 9 mo). Of these patients, 15 of 18 attended physical therapy (PT), 11 of 18 attended cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or biofeedback therapy, and 10 of 18 took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications, and 7 of 18 (40%) did a combination of all three therapies.

CONCLUSION

PPPD can impact patients at a young age, and prolonged symptoms present a significant burden to children and adolescents, many of whom are unable to attend school. Treatments such as PT, CBT, and SSRI medication may be effective.

Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential Outcomes Associated with Pediatric Sports-Related Concussion

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To 1) characterize vestibular-evoked myogenic potential responses in children and young adults with sports-related concussion (SRC) histories as compared with a normal healthy control group, and 2) correlate VEMP characteristics to SRC/sport history outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Seventy-six children and young adults with and without a history of SRC received cervical and ocular VEMP testing using a 500 Hz tone burst air conduction stimuli. VEMP response parameters (response rates, peak latencies, and peak-to-peak amplitudes) were assessed. Other clinical vestibular measures were performed. In the SRC group, sport history outcomes including number of SRC sustained over a lifetime, years of playing contact sports, and length of time playing contact sports were collected via in-person questionnaire.

RESULTS

Children and young adults with SRC had significantly reduced oVEMP responses and peak-to-peak amplitudes and greater amplitude response asymmetries between left and right ear. There was no effect of group on cVEMP findings. A greater frequency of SRCs sustained throughout a lifetime, a greater number of contact sports played, and a longer duration of playing a contact sport correlated with significantly poorer VEMP response characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that SRC and repeated subclinical head impact events have an effect on oVEMP outcomes. SRC may affect the utricle, superior vestibular nerve, and/or brainstem-mediated vestibular-ocular-reflex pathway. The prevalence of post-concussion-related dizziness is becoming increasingly common in a pediatric-otology clinic, thus performing VEMP testing in youth post-SRC provides an objective, noninvasive, and cost-effective method for monitoring the effects of sports-related impact on the vestibular system and related neural pathways.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3 Laryngoscope, 2021.

The Dizzy Child

Dizziness occurs in children with an estimated prevalence of 0.45% to 15.0%. Vestibular disorders in the pediatric population can impact gross motor function development, visual acuity, and contribute to psychological distress. Appropriate case history and focused direct examination can be helpful when determining the etiology of dizziness. Vestibular testing can be completed in children and guide management of suspected vestibular dysfunction. Vestibular dysfunction is commonly seen in patients with sensorineural hearing loss. Migraine disorders are the most common cause of dizziness in childhood. Etiologies of dizziness in children differ from those commonly seen in adults.