Vestibular function in severely retarded children in relation to their motor disabilities

We examined vestibular functions of thirty-one severely retarded children with caloric test and rotation nystagmus test, in combination with auditory brainstem response (ABR) recordings and measurement of brainstem width on cranial CT scans. The laterality of vestibular response was over 20% in most of the bedridden cases and was under 20% who could move. Abnormal findings in ABR had no relationship with the degree of motor disabilities, but decreased width of brainstem on CT scan showed some relationship with the degree of motor disabilities. We conclude that vestibular function tests are useful to predict future motor development in severely retarded children.