Pediatric Vestibular Disorders: Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment

Dear Colleagues,

Introduction

Vestibular disorders in children are increasingly recognized as an important source of morbidity, with clinical manifestations ranging from recurrent vertigo and imbalance to motor and cognitive delays. Historically, these conditions were underdiagnosed due to the challenges of obtaining reliable histories from children and the limitations of pediatric vestibular testing. The recent development of specific diagnostic criteria for pediatric episodic vestibular syndromes by the Bárány Society has provided greater clarity, enabling improved patient stratification and fostering clinical research in this area. This Special Issue will highlight advances in diagnosis, clinical management, and long-term outcomes of pediatric vestibular disorders, including, but no limited to, vestibular migraine, recurrent vertigo of childhood, and vestibular dysfunction associated with hearing loss or cochlear implantation. We invite contributions from clinicians and researchers across disciplines to promote a comprehensive understanding and improve care for affected children.

Background and history of this topic:

The study of pediatric vestibular disorders has evolved considerably over the past decades. Classic descriptions of benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood in the mid-20th century laid the groundwork for recognizing vertigo as a distinct entity in children. Subsequent research linked these early-onset conditions to migraine and introduced the concept of migraine precursors or equivalents. In parallel, technological progress in vestibular testing—such as video head impulse testing, and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials—has allowed more accurate assessment of vestibular function in children, despite technical and developmental challenges. Epidemiological studies have confirmed that vestibular migraine and recurrent vertigo of childhood are the most prevalent syndromes, while other conditions such as vestibular dysfunction in children with sensorineural hearing loss or after cochlear implantation are increasingly recognized.

Aim and scope of the Special Issue:

The main aim of this Special Issue is to provide an international platform for clinicians, researchers, and allied health professionals to share advances in the diagnosis and management of pediatric vestibular disorders. Contributions will address epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnostic strategies, and therapeutic interventions for vestibular disorders in children. We encourage multidisciplinary perspectives, integrating insights from otorhinolaryngology, pediatric neurology, audiology, vestibular science, and rehabilitation. By gathering original and review articles, this Special Issue will foster a deeper understanding of pediatric vestibular conditions and promote best practices for their clinical management.

Cutting-edge research:

We welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Epidemiology and natural history of vestibular migraine of childhood, recurrent vertigo of childhood, pediatric vestibular neuritis, acute cerebellitis, episodic ataxia, functional and psychogenic dizziness, motion sickness in children, bilateral vestibular hypofunction in children, vestibular dysfunction after concussion in children, and congenital vestibular disorders.
• Clinical phenotyping and longitudinal studies of pediatric vestibular syndromes.
• Advances in vestibular testing in children, including vHIT, VEMPs, caloric testing, rotary chair, and imaging.
• Vestibular newborn and infant screening
• Biomarkers and translational research exploring pathophysiological mechanisms.
• Vestibular dysfunction associated with sensorineural hearing loss and cochlear implantation in children.
• Cognitive, motor, and psychosocial consequences of pediatric vestibular disorders.
• Clinical trials and outcome studies of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments.
• Rehabilitation strategies, educational support, and family-centered management approaches.

What kind of papers we are soliciting:

• Original Research Manuscripts reporting clinical, translational, or experimental findings.
• Reviews, including systematic reviews and scoping reviews, conducted and reported according to the PRISMA guidelines

Dr. Juan Manuel Espinosa-Sanchez
Dr. Vanesa Perez-Guillen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• vertigo
• children
• adolescents
• pediatric vestibular disorders
• pediatric migraine disorders
• vestibular testing