Pediatric ENG

Question

Answer

Our practice is predominately adult, but we are asked occasionally to evaluate pediatric patients. I believe the youngest we have evaluated is 7-8 years of age. I think you have to do this empirically. Some children are pretty tough and if mom or dad are there and if the audiologist is empathetic and compassionate (I know, lots of ''ifs'' ) it is possible to coach them through the entire ENG examination. Rotary chair testing can be accomplished by having the child sit in the parent's lap. Usually rotary chair tests are better tolerated by children, but they do not replace a good caloric test. I think a vestibular assessment in the pediatric patient is needed whenever there is a suspicion that a vestibular system problem exists.

BIO:
Gary P. Jacobson, Ph.D. is Director of the Division of Audiology for the Henry Ford Health System. He is a past-president of the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring, current Editor of the American Journal of Audiology (AJA-ASHA) and is an Associate Editor (Electrophysiology) for the Journal of the American Academy of Audiology (JAAA). He serves on the Board of Directors and the Scientific Advisory Committee for the American Tinnitus Association. He is a co-editor of the text the ''Handbook of Balance Function Testing.''