Normative vestibulo-ocular reflex data in 6-12 year-old children using video head-impulse test

Background and Aim: The video head-impulse test (vHIT) is a useful clinical tool to measure vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain that is defined as the ratio of eye velocity to head velocity. Although normative data are available for VOR gain, most studies only report horizontal semi-circular canal VOR in adults and overlooked children. Hence, this study aimed at establishing normative VOR data for 6-12 years old children. Methods: Vestibuloocular reflex gain in horizontal and vertical planes was assessed on 60 healthy children without a history of balance and hearing problems using sudden, fast, and unpredictable head impulses. Results: The mean and standard deviation of VOR gains were 0.99 (0.05), 0.98 (0.06), and 0.93 (0.06) for horizontal, anterior, and posterior canals, respectively. Gain differences between genders were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The simplicity and tolerability of vHIT in children showed that it can be used as a screening tool to diagnose vestibular disorders in children. In addition, it was seen that mean VOR gain is greater in horizontal canal than vertical canal.