Balance Function Testing in Children using Accelerometry.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comparison of postural control measured by accelerometry in children aged 5-16 years with identified vestibular dysfunction compared with children with no history of vestibular dysfunction.
IRAS ID
199578
Contact name
Samantha Lear
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Children Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Our balance is maintained by integrating sensory information from the eyes, sensors in the skin and muscles and the vestibular system in the inner ear. Disruption of any of these can result in balance disorders and dizziness. In children, reported prevalence of dysfunction of the vestibular system varies from 5%-18%. Vestibular dysfunction can have a major impact on a child’s development and thus it is important to assess vestibular function as early as possible if there are reports of vertigo or dizziness, balance problems and delayed motor milestones.
A method to assess the use of sensory input for maintaining standing balance is posturography, measures postural stability in several different sensory conditions.
Data has been published for children aged three to 15 years using computerized dynamic posturography. However, commercially available computerised dynamic posturography systems largely use a force platform, are expensive and not portable, and thus are not usually available outside highly specialised services.
The development of a system that measures body sway using more portable equipment could potentially allow a wider use of postural stability measurement. The aim of this study is to develop accelerometry to assist with vestibular tests. In this method a miniature movement measurement device called Inertia Measurement Unit (IMU) is used. An accelerometry based method may be preferable to force platforms because of much lower cost, ease of use and portability. It also could be more effective than force platform for children with low body weight.
A portable accelerometry system for measuring body sway has been developed by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and Sheffield Hallam University. The proposed study aims to collect normative data for postural stability from children attending clinics in Hearing Services at Sheffield Children’s Hospital with no history of balance problems/dizziness, and data from children with identified vestibular disorders.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0014
Date of REC Opinion
8 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion