Impact of Vestibular Function on Deaf Infants' Activities of Daily Living

This non-interventional, observational, case-control study aims to evaluate the impact of vestibular impairments on the daily life activities and functional development of deaf children aged 0 to 2 years. The study focuses on understanding how vestibular dysfunction, a condition affecting balance, posture, and motor skills, influences children's ability to perform essential daily tasks such as walking, sitting, and interacting with their environment from a occupational therapist point of view.

Study Design:

Participants will be divided into three distinct groups:

1. Group 1: Deaf children with confirmed vestibular impairment.
2. Group 2: Deaf children without vestibular impairment.
3. Group 3 (Control Group): Hearing children without vestibular deficits. A total of 105 children (35 per group) will be enrolled over a three-year period during their consultations at the ENT departement.

Methods and Data Collection:

• Quantitative Evaluation:

Children's daily life activities will be assessed using the OT Hope 0-5 years questionnaire, which is completed by parents with assistance from an occupational therapist. This tool measures children's competences across key domains, including personal care, play, and social interactions. Responses are categorized into four levels:

• ""Yes, we can do this.""
• ""Yes, we can do this with help.""
• ""We can't do this very well.""
• ""No, we can't do this."" Scores will be assigned to each response, and the overall scores will be compared between the three groups to identify differences in competences and daily activity performance.
• Qualitative Evaluation:

It will be proposed to some parents to participate in qualitative interviews designed to explore their experiences, challenges, and strategies related to their child's daily routines and motor development. These interviews will provide insights on the impact of vestibular impairments on family life and the child's autonomy.

Hypotheses:

The study is based on the following hypotheses:

1. Deaf children with vestibular impairments will have lower scores in daily life activities, especially in motor-related tasks such as walking, compared to the other two groups.
2. Deaf children without vestibular impairments may show slight differences compared to hearing children due to their hearing loss but will perform better than children with both hearing and vestibular impairments.
3. The qualitative interviews will reveal specific challenges faced by families of children with vestibular dysfunction and highlight adaptive strategies.

Outcomes:

• Primary Outcome: Comparison of daily life activity scores between the three groups using the OT Hope 0-5 years tool.
• Secondary Outcomes: Analysis of qualitative interview data to explore themes related to motor challenges, family adaptation, and participation in daily routines.

Study Duration:

• Inclusion period: 3 years.
• Patient participation: Approximately 1 hour (including questionnaire completion and, for some, qualitative interviews).

Ethical and Regulatory Considerations:

The study complies with ethical standards for human research and data confidentiality regulations. Parents' non-opposition will be documented, and all collected data will be anonymized and securely stored.

By exploring both quantitative and qualitative dimensions, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how vestibular impairments affect the functional development and autonomy of young children, with the ultimate goal of guiding early interventions and improving clinical practices.