Vestibular Infant Screening - Rehabilitation

Vestibular Infant Screening - Rehabilitation (VIS-REHAB): Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial on Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) in Vestibular-impaired Children

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the short-term effect of a structured, combined postural control and gaze stabilisation protocol (VIS-REHAB protocol) in a group of vestibular-impaired children of different age categories (3-17 years). The main questions it aims to answer are:

• What is the short-term effect of the VIS-REHAB protocol?
• What are the most important factors that may influence the effect of and outcome after application of the VIS-REHAB protocol?

The participant will undergo both an active rehabilitation program (VIS-REHAB protocol) and a period during which physical therapy is discontinued (CTRL protocol).:

- VIS-REHAB protocol: Postural control (static and dynamic postural stability exercises), gaze stability exercises (oculomotor function and VOR-exercises) & general gross motor training with focus on gaze stability and postural control.

Researchers will compare the VIS-REHAB protocol with receiving no therapy (CTRL protocol) to evaluate potential enhancements in postural stability, gaze stability, motor performance and quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with identified vestibular dysfunction
• With or without concomitant hearing loss and/or cochlear implant (CI)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children incapable to understand simple instructions (due to severe cognitive disorders, impaired language comprehension, etc.)
• Severe disorders of other primary sensory input systems for balance function
• Severe neuromotor disorders (incapable of independent standing and walking)
• Severe muscle tone disorders (e.g. cerebral palsy)
• Severe orthopaedic dysfunctions
• Patients with vision problems that cannot be corrected for
• Children with planned CI-surgery within 5 months before or during the study period