Vertigo and dizziness syndromes in children and adolescents: Clinical presentation and diagnostic pathway

To provide a broad overview of the diagnostic spectrum of vertigo and dizziness syndromes in children and adolescents, to characterize distinct clinical and instrument-based findings, and to propose a reasonable diagnostic approach for the 'dizzy child', as the underlying causes differ from those in adults and may considerably affect daily living and social activities.

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Clinicians evaluating pediatric dizziness should expect a broad differential and extended diagnostic pathway; this study may support earlier structured assessment, but specific protocol changes require confirmation in larger prospective cohorts.

Pediatric vestibular disorders are underdiagnosed and poorly characterized compared to adult populations, making evidence on clinical presentation and diagnostic pathways especially valuable for audiologists and ENT clinicians who see children.

1. 01Study characterizes vertigo and dizziness presentations across a spectrum of conditions in children and adolescents.
2. 02Diagnostic pathways used in this population are described, highlighting clinical complexity.
3. 03Published ahead of print in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (2026).
4. 04Pediatric vestibular disorders present differently from adult cases, complicating standard diagnostic approaches.
5. 05Findings may support development of structured pediatric vestibular diagnostic protocols.

PMID

42745351

DOI

10.1111/dmcn.70506.

Journal

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Children and adolescents presenting with vertigo and dizziness syndromes

Intervention

Characterization of clinical presentation and diagnostic pathway for pediatric vertigo/dizziness