ASHA Learning Pass

This session addresses the diagnosis of pediatric vestibular and balance disorders. Particular focus is paid to the most common audiological testing accommodations for pediatric patients suffering from dizziness and imbalance as well as the etiologies of such disorders seen in the pediatric population.

This course is a recorded session from the 2021 ASHA Convention Virtual Library (session 2155V). The session was developed by, and presenters invited by, Hearing, Balance, Tinnitus – Assessment and Intervention: Pediatrics. This course is part one of a two-part series; see Part Two: Vestibular and Pediatrics: Management.

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to:

• Describe three techniques to achieving success with vHIT testing in young children 
• Describe the most common vestibular test battery for a child under 3 years of age as well as means of screening for possible dysfunction 
• Discuss the most common etiologies of vestibular and balance dysfunction in children, particularly as it relates to hearing loss

Presenter Information

Violette Lavender, AuD (Presenting Author), has been instrumental in the creation of the pediatric vestibular lab at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Her research endeavors include improving the life experience for children with vestibular disorders and finding new ways to approach the test battery for young children.

Financial Disclosures:

• Convention registration waived

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• No nonfinancial relationships relevant to the content of the session

Jennifer Braswell Christy, PT, PhD (Presenting Author), is Associate Professor and DPT Program Director at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Dr. Christy is the current Director of Research for the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Her primary area of research is in the development of innovative interventions to improve gaze stability and balance in children with vestibular-related impairments. Dr. Christy teaches numerous continuing education courses related to vestibular rehabilitation in the U.S. and abroad.

Financial Disclosures:

• Convention registration waived

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• No nonfinancial relationships relevant to the content of the session

Dr. Sharon Cushing (Presenting Author) is a full-time pediatric otolaryngologist and the Director of the Cochlear Implant Program at The Hospital for Sick Children as well as an Associate Professor/Clinician Investigator in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto. Her clinical and surgical interests include disorders of the external, middle, and inner ear. Her research focus is vestibular and balance dysfunction in children in association with hearing loss and cochlear implantation.

• Speaker’s Bureau for Interacoustics and Cochlear Corporation 
• Royalties from Plural Publishing 
• Editor of Balance Disorders in the Pediatric Population 
• Patent Holder for Systems And Methods For Balance Stabilization 
• Sponsored Research Agreement with Cochlear Americas

Nonfinancial Disclosures:

• No nonfinancial relationships relevant to the content of the session

Assessment Type

Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

To earn continuing education credit, you must complete the learning assessment by the end date below.

Program History and CE Information

Content origination date: November 2021
End date: March 9, 2028

This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).