Balance disorders in infancy may profoundly impact motor development, spatial awareness, and cognitive milestones, yet no standardized screening protocols existed until now. This gap has left countless infants with undiagnosed vestibular dysfunction, potentially compromising their developmental trajectory during critical early months when neural plasticity is highest.
Twenty-eight international specialists across 26 institutions have now established the first clinical consensus for vestibular infant screening (VIS) in children aged 0-12 months. Through a rigorous three-round Delphi process, experts achieved agreement on four core domains: optimal screening tools, target populations requiring assessment, timing protocols, and standardized cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) recording procedures. The consensus specifically addresses the frequent co-occurrence of vestibular dysfunction in infants with sensorineural hearing loss, where balance impairments often remain undetected despite routine hearing screenings.
This represents a significant advancement in pediatric care, as vestibular function directly influences motor milestones like sitting, crawling, and walking. Early vestibular dysfunction can cascade into delayed spatial navigation skills and potentially affect academic performance years later. The standardized protocols should enable earlier intervention when neural compensation mechanisms are most responsive. However, implementation challenges remain substantial—most healthcare systems lack trained personnel and specialized equipment for infant vestibular testing. The consensus also doesn't address cost-effectiveness or long-term developmental outcomes, areas requiring future research. While this framework marks important progress toward comprehensive infant sensory screening, translating these expert recommendations into routine clinical practice will require significant infrastructure investment and training initiatives across healthcare systems globally.