title: Development of the vestibular system and balance function: differential diagnosis in the pediatric population.
abstract: Dizziness is a rare complaint among children. In this article, the authors present the embryology and development of the vestibular system, and offer a rational approach to taking a careful history and ordering and interpreting appropriate vestibular and balance testing in children. A differential diagnosis is presented, so that the likely cause of the balance disorder can be elucidated even in the most complex pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Gibbon Building, 111 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. roreilly@nemours.org
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grindle
authors.forename: Emily F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Zwicky
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morlet
mesh_terms: D065635:Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D058585:Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology