4 year old deaf child w/ cochlear impant and sensory intergration dysfunction

[Beth32]

My daughter was diagnosed as profoundly Deaf at the age of 8 months and recieved a cochlear implant at the age of 2.  What lead us to seak help for her was the fact that she was not developing normally from about 5 months on.  She has severe balance problems and was unable to sit unassisted until the age of 18 months. She is still unable to walk without help.  The problem is that no one seems to have a clue as to why she has these problems.  I have taken her to many different doctors yet all they say is that this happens with some deaf children.  I have always been concerned that she may have suffered some sort of birth trauma or possibly even a stroke after birth that may have caused these problems.   Because of her motor delays she of course is very behind.  Her receptive speech is very good, but she has hardly any expressive speech.  She was diagnosed with Sensory Intergration Dusfunction at about 14 months and has been in aggressive Sensory therapy since then. I guess my question is, have you ever heard of a deaf child with this severe of a problem for no apparant reason other than she is deaf? Do you have any information specifically relating to hearing impaired children and sensory intergration?  I have never been able to find any. She has no genetic conditions that we have been able to find and she appears normal in every other way other than severly delayed motor development and vestibular problems.  Please help with any information you may have.
Thank You

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Your central question is in the area of a medical specialty that is not within my domain of expertise. Perhaps one of the readers of the Forum will weigh in on this.

[kidcare]

Look on www.cochlearimplantonline.com   There are several options to click on and the vestibular area may have the info to help.  You should have a school for the deaf in your state and most have outreach programs.  They maybe able to provide you with alot of valuable info, especially if they have an OT or PT who is familiar with treating hearing impaired children.  Your local school district may have a teacher of the hearing impaired who can be of assistance.  Call your special services coordinator and ask for help.

[rumpully]

Deaf children are born with balance problem due to the damage to the ears.n  Many however adapt very well during developement.  I do not have much experience with cochlear implants, but my hunch would tell me that maybe something was damaged during the process of the implant if there is no other rationalization for the delay.  Have you had the area with the cochlear x-rayed? or evaluated to see if something within the ear is damaged.  How is the childs production of language?  If behind you may want to try sign language until the child can catch up in the delay then try speach.  It is much easier for a child to gesture and sign early than the developement of the vocal cords.  Good luck in your search.
Joann Patterson

[kidcare]

I asked someone who works with hearing impaired children if they had encountered this situation.  They stated that most hearing impaired children do have trouble with balance and it can last a good while.  They also mentioned whether your daughter might have sinus problems or ear infections.  If she does have reoccuring ear infections have they ruled out a fungal infection.  I have worked with a hearing impaired child who had constant ear infections and they finally found out she had a fungal infection.  I hope this helps!!

[judy18]

You may want to have your child tested for Usher's Syndrome.  This is an eye test. I work with deaf children and adopted a deaf child who now has a cochlear implant.  Any child I work with who doesn't work within the normal range - I send for this test. I also had my daughter tested for this. You will need a pediatric opthomologist  - I think the test is called a EMG.   Many deaf children do experience some balance problems, but it usually isn't as severe as you are explaining.  Could there be another problem unrelated to the hearing loss?

[Summertime706]

A related discussion, Deaf and Balance Problems was started.