Vestibular Balance Therapy Intervention for Children (VBT-C)
Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases, Vestibular Disorder, Bilateral Vestibular Loss
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases focused on measuring pediatric, vestibular rehabilitation, dynamic visual acuity, postural control, feasibility
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: confirmed diagnosis of severe to profound SNHL age 6-12 years caregiver/child verbal willingness to commit to the home vestibular balance therapy or sham intervention vision screening/testing within 1 year or willingness to get a vision test. Exclusion Criteria: neurologic condition other than SNHL inability to read at a kindergarten level or identify pictures currently receiving vestibular therapy uncorrected vision problems unrelated to a vestibular deficit
Sites / Locations
- UABRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Sham Comparator
VBP Intervention Group
Sham Intervention
Children coded as abnormal on functional tests (FT) (n=12) will participate in an 8-week 5X/week home-based VBT program. At the initial visit (T0), the PI will instruct the participants (caregiver and child) in the program and provide all materials. The exercises will be led by the caregiver, with weekly in person checks by the PI to progress and provide coaching. The child/caregiver will complete a daily log to report activities and level of enjoyment. VBT will be done 5 days/week and will include 4 key categories of exercises, each lasting 5 minutes (20 minutes total of exercise per day). The 4 categories, explained below, include: 1) Times 1 (X1) Viewing, 2) Gaze Shifting, 3) Static Balance, 4) Dynamic Balance. The proposed VBT home program will include 10 minutes of gaze stabilization exercises, and 10 minutes of balance training.
Sham Intervention (not to be compared to intervention - for feasibility only): Aim 1 is to establish the feasibility of a control intervention to be used in future studies. Therefore, 3 participants who score above the set criterion for the Functional Tests (FT) (i.e., they do not need VBT) will participate in an 8-week sham intervention. At T0, the PI will instruct the participants to do the sham intervention, led by the caregiver with weekly checks to control for attention bias. The sham intervention will be done for 20 minutes per day and will consist of 10 minutes of focused reading a book of the child's choice and 10 minutes of active play. The child and caregiver will complete a daily activity log documenting the activity and level of enjoyment.