title: Static balance function in children with a history of preterm birth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incomplete maturation of brain in preterm children results in long-term neurodevelopmental impairment. This study aimed to investigate the static balance function in children with a history of preterm birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 31 preterm children including 21 moderately preterm (MPT), 10 very preterm (VPT), and 20 term children aged 5.5 and 6.5 years. The cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) test and four static balance subscales of BOT-2 were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VPT children showed a significant increase in P1 and N1 wave latencies in cVEMP test compared to those in the term children (p= 0.041). Mean scores in the four static balance subscales of BOT-2 were significantly lower in the preterm children compared to those in the term children (p= 0.025). The P1 wave latency (p= 0.003) and mean score of standing on a balance beam with open eyes (p= 0.039) were significantly lower in the VPT children compared to those in the MPT children. A significant correlation was observed between the mean score in exercise 4 (standing on one leg on a balance beam with closed eyes) of static balance subscales of BOT-2 and P1 (r= -0.267, p= 0.036) and N1 (r= -0.304, p= 0.016) wave latencies of cVEMP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The longer latency of cVEMP waves along with a poor performance of children with a history of preterm birth suggests a possible defect in central vestibular pathway.
authors.affiliation: MSc, Audiologist, Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, & Rehabilitation Research Center (RRC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. z_eshaghi@razi.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Eshaghi
authors.affiliation: PhD, Associate Professor, Neuroscientist, Rehabilitation Research Center (RRC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, & Department of Basic Sciences in Rehabilitation, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. jafari.z@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: PhD, Assistant Professor, Statistician, Department of Biostatistics, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Jalaiesh@sina.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Shohreh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jalaie
keywords: Preschool Children; Preterm Birth; Static Balance; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials