Abstract
Caloric and righting reflex tests were performed in 80 deaf children with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Of these 80 children, 24 (30%) were found to have vestibular hypofunction, 6 (7.5%) were suspected of having vestibular hypofunction and 50 (62.5%) had a normal vestibular function. Of all 160 ears tested, impairment of vestibular function was proven in 21.3%, suspected in another 5.6% and entirely absent in the remaining 73.1%. There was no distinct correlation between the incidence of vestibular hypofunction and the degree of hearing loss. Half of the children with vestibular hypofunction elicited a normal righting reflex, suggesting working of a compensatory mechanism. In some minor proportion (26%) of the children with CRS an abnormality of righting reflex was observed in the presence of a normal vestibular function. This discrepancy might be accounted for an injury of the otolith organ or minimal brain dysfunction. According to the recent literature on inner ear pathology of CRS, there seems to be a general agreement that changes correspond to the cochleo-saccular degeneration of Scheibe type, but result of this study suggests a part of deaf children with CRS has an abnormality in the utricle and semicircular canals.
