Reading Outcomes in Children With Vestibular Loss

Launched by FATHER FLANAGAN'S BOYS' HOME · Jun 8, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how vestibular loss, which affects balance, might contribute to reading difficulties in children who also have hearing loss. Traditionally, researchers have focused mainly on how hearing loss impacts language skills, but this study aims to explore the role of vestibular loss as well. By understanding this connection better, the findings could help in identifying vestibular loss in children with hearing impairments and improving their support and care.

To participate in this trial, children aged between 2 and 12 years with certain levels of hearing ability may qualify. For example, children with normal hearing should have good hearing ability, while those with hearing loss should have a specific degree of hearing impairment. However, children with certain conditions like autism, blindness, or significant intellectual disabilities will not be eligible. Participants will undergo assessments to determine their reading and problem-solving skills, and the study will help create a better understanding of how balance issues can affect learning.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Children will be required to have nonverbal problem-solving/intelligence scores within 1.5 SD of the mean (mean = 100, SD = 15, 1.5 SD of mean = 77 - 123).
• • Children with normal hearing must have thresholds ≤20 dB HL from 0.25 to 8 kHz.
• • Children with hearing loss must have pure-tone averages \> 65 dB HL.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Fail a vision screen at 20/30
• • Have autism, blindness, or other optic disorders, cerebral palsy, significant neurologic involvement, uncorrectable vision problems, and intellectual disability.
• • Children with nonverbal problem-solving/intelligence scores \> 123 or \< 77 will be excluded.
• • Each participant's current medications will be reviewed. Children taking medications known to result in oculomotor slowing will be excluded (i.e., anti-depressants, vestibular suppressants, sedatives, etc).