Did you know that vestibular disorders affect children as well as adults? There are increasing reports of vestibular deficits in children. One study suggests that as many as 1 in 5 children in the United States have problems with dizziness or balance. Pediatric vestibular disorders result in vertigo, gaze instability, delayed motor development, and problems with reading. These symptoms are difficult for anyone to cope with, but are especially challenging for children and their families. Pediatric vestibular healthcare specialists are hard to find, it can be difficult for a child to describe their symptoms, and delayed diagnosis can have devastating results. In this episode of the ICU Podcast we’re going to talk to a pediatric vestibular specialist and the mother of a young child who bravely battled vertigo, hearing loss, and a host of other vestibular symptoms.

Guests:

Andi Gilkey - Andi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the proud mom of a

vestibular warrior. Her son is an amazing 11-year-old who loves baseball, music, video games and his friends. He has bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, a unilateral Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct, childhood vertigo, PPPD and vestibular migraines. His hearing journey has been well supported by an incredible team, but his vestibular journey has been one of the biggest challenges Andi has encountered as a mother. She says it felt like an endless roller coaster full of ups and downs since he was a toddler. Through hard work and the creation of an incredible vestibular team, she is proud to say that her son has been in remission of vestibular symptoms for 10 months. Her ongoing goal is to share her family’s story with others to provide hope and support to the vestibular community.

Jennifer Braswell-Christy, PT, PhD, FAPTA: Dr. Jennifer Christy is a Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her primary area of research is in the development of innovative intervention methods to improve gaze stability and balance in children with vestibular-related impairments. Related to this area of research, Dr. Christy teaches numerous continuing education courses in the U.S. and abroad.