Vestibular disorders following head injury in children.

One hundred and ninety-nine child patients with blunt head injury were examined. Spontaneous and/or positional nystagmus (greater than or equal to 7 degrees/s) was observed immediately after trauma in 46% of cases, 6-12 months (average 10.2 months) later in 20%, and 2-8 years (average 4.7 years) later in 18%. Central ENG disturbances were found immediately after trauma in 43% of cases, 6-12 months later in 24%, and 2-8 years later in 12%. Only 1.5% of the child patients suffered from vertigo more than 6 months after trauma. The results of the study led to the conclusion that head injuries cause about as many similar objective vestibular lesions in children as in adults but fewer subjective symptoms.