Behavioral and nystagmus response of a hyperkinetic child to vestibular stimulation.
A five-year-old boy, referred for hyperkinetic behavior, was tested for vestibular function before and after a four-week regime of controlled semicircular canal stimulation. Hyperkinetic behavior was assessed both during and after the four-week treatment period. Initial testing showed that semicircular canal function was normal, but that two measurable central nervous system mechanisms representing integration of the sensory signal were not at a normal level. Behavioral instruments demonstrated an improvement in symptoms of hyperkinetic behavior. It is postulated that the behavioral improvement resulted from an increase in task-relevant arousal in the reticular formation, accompanied by increased cortical inhibition.
D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004584:Electronystagmography; D006801:Humans; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012399:Rotation; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000503:physiopathology*