Newborn balance testing could flag hidden vestibular problems alongside hearing loss

Article excerpt

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed child-friendly methods to test balance function in newborns, potentially catching vestibular problems that often accompany hearing loss. The new approach allows healthcare systems to identify dysfunction in infants' balance systems during their first months of life, much earlier than current practices. This timing matters because children with hearing impairment frequently have undetected balance disorders that can affect development and safety. The doctoral thesis demonstrates that vestibular assessment is feasible in this age group and opens the door to earlier intervention and targeted rehabilitation for affected children.