The vestibular organ and its cooperation with other input systems (vision and somatosensory) in the vestibular system are important for proper gaze stabilization and postural control. Young children with vestibular dysfunction often have often low muscle tone, weak head control or are hypotonic, and typically reach their early motor milestones at a later age. With pediatric vestibular screening, children as young as 6 months of age can be diagnosed with, and followed up for, vestibular dysfunction. Several high-risk populations are thus systematically screened, such as children with hearing loss or those with congenital cytomegalovirus infection. However, there are still important high-risk groups where the link with vestibular function is still unclear, in particular, hypotonic children. Do hypotonic children have underlying (causal) vestibular dysfunction and what is the role of the vestibular system in building adequate muscle tone? The current study (Objective A) will attempt to gain new insights into the occurrence and role of vestibular dysfunction in hypotonic children.

In addition (Objective B) we will investigate how children with vestibular dysfunction can be further monitored and supported using new and functional vestibular examination methods. The aim is to standardize the functional balance tests and subsequently incorporate the results in vestibular follow-up, rehabilitation and counseling tailored to the child.

Ultimately, new insights will be sought regarding the manifestation of vestibular dysfunction in children (Objective C). To this end, the ways in which the vestibular organ and its input systems integrate will be explored and whether critical maturation moments of the vestibular system can be identified.