Martens Sarie, Dhooge Ingeborg, Dhondt Cleo, Leyssens Laura, Sucaet Marieke, Vanaudenaerde Saartje, Rombaut Lotte, Maes Leen
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10 (2P1), 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Department of Oto-rhino-laryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10 (1P1), 9000, Ghent, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Head and Skin, Corneel Heymanslaan 10 (1P1), Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2019 May;120:196-201. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2019.02.033. Epub 2019 Feb 25.
The Vestibular Infant Screening - Flanders (VIS-Flanders) project aims to implement and refine a vestibular screening protocol for all children with neonatal hearing loss in Flanders (Belgium) to limit the impact of a vestibular dysfunction on the motor, cognitive and psychosocial development of hearing-impaired children.
Each child with a confirmed neonatal hearing loss in Flanders will undergo a vestibular screening at the age of 6 months in the reference centers involved in the neonatal hearing screening program. The cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (cVEMP) test will be used as a screening tool. The test is short, child-friendly, feasible at a young age and highly correlated with motor and balance performance. The results of an extensive follow-up protocol at the Ghent University Hospital will enable further refinement of the screening protocol.
Data collection in all reference centers has started since June 2018. This paper outlines the rationale for the screening and the set-up of this four-year project.
Current available literature strongly favors vestibular assessment in congenitally hearing-impaired children. A standard vestibular screening for these children should lead to early identification of vestibular deficits and subsequent prompt referral for further motor assessment and rehabilitation, in order to limit the impact of a vestibular dysfunction in developing children and improve their quality of life.
弗拉芒地区（比利时）的前庭婴儿筛查项目（VIS-弗拉芒）旨在为弗拉芒地区所有新生儿听力损失儿童实施并完善前庭筛查方案，以限制前庭功能障碍对听力受损儿童运动、认知和社会心理发展的影响。
弗拉芒地区每例确诊为新生儿听力损失的儿童将在参与新生儿听力筛查项目的参考中心于6个月大时接受前庭筛查。颈前庭诱发肌源性电位（cVEMP）测试将用作筛查工具。该测试耗时短、对儿童友好、在幼儿期可行且与运动和平衡表现高度相关。根特大学医院广泛随访方案的结果将有助于进一步完善筛查方案。
自2018年6月起，所有参考中心均已开始数据收集。本文概述了筛查的基本原理以及这个为期四年项目的设置。
目前的现有文献强烈支持对先天性听力受损儿童进行前庭评估。对这些儿童进行标准的前庭筛查应能早期识别前庭缺陷，并随后迅速转诊进行进一步的运动评估和康复，以限制前庭功能障碍对发育中儿童的影响并改善他们的生活质量。
