Balance in children following cochlear implantation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the vestibular function of children who had unilateral and bilateral cochlear implants compared with a control group of otherwise healthy children who had not been implanted.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational case-control study.

METHODS: Posturography was carried out in the form of a Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance using a Wii Balance Board and the Vestio App on an iPod Touch. Thirty children in total were tested, 10 children in each cohort. Results in the form of root mean square calculations were available for each child.

RESULTS: Results showed a significant difference in the vestibular function of implanted children and the non-implanted control group (P < 0.05). As expected, children in all groups had more difficulty maintaining posture with their eyes closed on a compliant surface (P < 0.05). Thirty per cent of children with bilateral and 10% with unilateral cochlear implants were unable to complete testing.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates posturography as an inexpensive, easily operated tool that can be used to assess paediatric vestibular function. It showed a significant difference between the control group and the implanted groups. Further work prompted by this study will include interval post-operative testing to more accurately assess the effect that implantation has on vestibular function.