SCREENING FOR VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION IN CHILDREN UNDERGOING CANCER TREATMENT AND CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS

Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of vestibular screening failures in children undergoing cancer treatment and childhood cancer survivors (CCS) as compared to age-matched controls. We hypothesize that the prevalence of vestibular screening failures will be significantly higher in children undergoing cancer treatment and childhood cancer survivors (CCS) as compared to age-matched controls.

Number of Subjects: The cancer group was comprised of twenty children who were undergoing treatment for cancer or who were childhood cancer survivors (CCS). The control group was comprised of twenty age-matched controls.

Materials/Methods: A vestibular screening failure was defined as any participant who had at least one significant score (“screening failure”) on the following vestibular measures: 1.Pediatric Vestibular Symptom Questionnaire (PVSQ) – score >0.68; 2. Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration on Balance (mCTSIB) – time < 110 seconds; 3. Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) – score >2. Prevalence of vestibular screening failures was calculated for each control and cancer groups. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare prevalence of vestibular screening failures between groups.

Results: 65% of children in the cancer group experienced a vestibular screening failure. The prevalence of vestibular screening failures was significantly higher in the cancer group as compared to the control group (p=0.003) . Specifically, children in the cancer group were 9.9 times more likely to experience a vestibular screening failure than children in the control group.

Conclusions: These results indicate children with and beyond cancer have higher prevalence of vestibular screening failures as compared to healthy age-matched peers. Comprehensive vestibular testing should be performed in this population to determine if children with vestibular screening failures have unilateral or bilateral vestibular impairment.

Clinical Relevance: A brief screen of vestibular function can be performed by clinicians who treat children with and beyond cancer. Screening for vestibular failures in this population may increase referrals to physical therapy. Additionally, physical therapists have the potential to address vestibular impairments in this population which may otherwise go unnoticed.