Normative values to Horus® computerized posturography in children.

PURPOSE

Propose normalization values of the Horus® computerized posturography platform, in children aged 4 to 6 years, without auditory and/or vestibular complaints.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study, 216 children aged 4 to 6 years participated. All the children underwent to visual screening, audiological evaluation and computerized posturography, which consists of research on stability limits and seven sensory conditions. The results were statistically analyzed using the tests non-parametric Kruskal-Walli, post hoc Dunn-Bonferroni for pairwise age comparisons and the Mann-Whitney U for sex analysis. Categorical data were presented in relative frequency and quantitative data in mean and standard deviation.

RESULTS

Standardization values were described for the stability limit and for the seven sensory conditions. There was a difference for the stability limit between sex at 4 years old(p<0.007) and, in the comparison between ages 4 and 5 (p=0.005) and 4 and 6 years old(p<0.001). In the residual functional balance, comparison between ages, there was a difference between 4 and 5, 4 and 6, 5 and 6 years, however for different data. The presence of statistical difference for different evaluation data also occurred in the analysis by sex. In the sensory systems, the findings between ages showed differences for the vestibular system, right and left optokinetic visual dependence, tunnel visual dependence and for the composite balance index.

CONCLUSION

It was possible to establish normative values for the Horus® posturography in healthy children aged 4 to 6 years.