The course is designed for all those clinicians who have a basic knowledge of vestibular assessment and rehabilitation as applied to adults but are looking to build on this foundation and develop their interest and skills in the assessment and management of children with dizziness.

Delegates will be provided with a pre-course reading list and presentations, which will maximise their learning opportunities during the course. Course materials are included in the registration fee.

Who is this course this for:

– Audiologists

– Audiovestibular doctors

– Physiotherapists and other health professionals

You should have some basic knowledge of assessment and management of adults with dizziness.

Course organiser

• Dr Elwina Timehin, Consultant Audiovestibular Physician at St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Paul Radomskij, Clinical Scientist at UCL Ear Institute

Course contributors

Previous speakers have included:

• Dr Suzanne Alsters
• Dr David Herdman
• Dr Veronica Kennedy
• Sudhagar Kuttva
• Dr Arun Pajaniappane
• Dr Chrysa Pyridakou
• Paul Radomskij
• Dr Elwina Timehin
• Dr Sreedharan Nair Vijayanand

Course themes

The course covers a wide range of topics including:

• Functional anatomy and physiology of the vestibular system
• Development of normal balance function in children and common motor milestones
• Common peripheral and central causes of dizziness in children
• Patient and Parent Centred Interview
• Non-vestibular causes of dizziness
• Role and value of non-audiological tests
• Genetics of Vestibular Disorders
• Medical Management of the dizzy child
• Clinical test of vestibular function
• Physiotherapist assessment of the dizzy child
• The frequency response of the vestibular system – which part of the vestibular system are we testing?
• Modification of objective balance assessments when testing children and case studies
• VEMPs and VHIT in children
• Vestibular rehabilitation in children

Teaching structure

The course will run over three consecutive days. Seminar-style, interactive teaching is supplemented by:

• group exercises and class discussion
• practical demonstrations including videos
• case studies
• self-directed reading and pre-reading around current structure and practice in paediatric audiology services

Learning outcomes

Following this course, you will:

• Understand the functional anatomy and physiology of the vestibular system and development of normal balance function in children and common motor milestones.
• Have a knowledge of common peripheral and central causes of dizziness in children.
• Understand the value and implementation of patient and parent centred interviews.
• Have a knowledge of non-vestibular causes of dizziness, role and value of non-audiological tests and genetics of vestibular disorders.
• Understand the value of the medical management of the dizzy child.
• Know how to carry out a range of clinical tests of balance including: – eye movement assessments, clinical tests of the vestibular ocular reflex, gait, static and dynamic equilibrium, positioning tests.
• Develop skills in the management of BPPV.
• Have knowledge of the physiotherapist approach in the assessment of the dizzy child.
• Understand how objective balance assessments should be modified when testing children.
• Develop skills in carrying out VEMPs and VHIT in children.
• Develop skills in the application of vestibular rehabilitation in children.