Balanced Growth Study on How the Vestibular System Affects Motor and Cognitive Development in Children Ages 6 to 13

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to explore how the vestibular system influences motor and cognitive development in school-aged children. It focuses on children with typical development, those with vestibular impairments, and children diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, or Developmental Coordination Disorder. The goal is to better understand how vestibular dysfunctions at birth or early life stages affect various developmental areas including balance, cognition, motor skills, and psychosocial performance. Participants undergo the Balanced Growth Protocol, a comprehensive behavioral assessment including audiovestibular testing, cognitive tasks, and motor evaluations. The study groups include typically developing children, vestibular-impaired children recently diagnosed with vestibular dysfunction, and children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Each group completes the same testing protocol designed to detect vestibular, cognitive, and motor dysfunctions and investigate their interrelations. During the study, children attend two main test moments involving assessments such as video Head Impulse Test, Rotatory chair, caloric tests, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, and various motor and cognitive tests. These evaluations measure vestibular function, motor skills, and cognitive abilities, including attention and executive function. Parents complete questionnaires about executive function as well. All tests are conducted once during the scheduled visits, with total testing times varying between 5 to 20 minutes per assessment. The study tracks detailed performance outcomes to understand vestibular involvement in child development.

BALANCED GROWTH: The Involvement of the Vestibular System in a Child's Cognitive and Motor Development