RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Virtual Reality in Children With and Without Vestibular Deficits

This study is exploring how virtual reality (VR) can be used to help children who have problems with their balance, often due to issues with their inner ear, known as vestibular deficits. Our inner ear is crucial for balance and knowing where we are in space. When it doesn't work well, it can affect a child's development and how they move. Researchers believe that VR, which creates immersive virtual worlds, could be a fun and safe way to both understand and help these children. It creates special experiences that can encourage the brain to use other senses, like sight, to make up for the balance problem. The main goal is to create a reliable and child-friendly VR program to study hand-eye coordination in children with and without these balance challenges.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Enrolment target

140

Start

12 Apr 2021

Estimated completion

01 Feb 2027

Vestibular Diseases

What is this study about?

Our bodies rely on a hidden system in our inner ear, called the vestibular system, to help us keep our balance and understand where we are in relation to our surroundings. This system works together with our vision and the feeling in our muscles and joints to give our brain a complete picture of our position.

When this inner ear system isn't working properly, especially in children, it can make it harder for them to develop skills like sitting up, standing, and walking. They might struggle with their balance or feel disoriented. This study wants to find out if using virtual reality (VR) could be a helpful and enjoyable way to understand and improve these difficulties.

Virtual reality allows us to create special, immersive environments that are hard to replicate in real life. The researchers believe that these VR experiences can help a child's brain learn to use other senses, like what they see, to compensate for the balance problems. Because VR is fun and interactive, it's particularly well-suited for children. The study aims to develop a safe and easy-to-use VR program to better understand how all our senses work together, especially in children with and without balance issues.

Key takeaways

This study uses virtual reality to understand and potentially help children with balance problems.
It focuses on the inner ear's role in balance and how other senses can compensate.
VR offers a fun and safe way to create special experiences for children.
The goal is to develop child-friendly tools for diagnosis and treatment.
It aims to understand how our brain combines information from different senses.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for children and teenagers between the ages of 7 and 17, and also adults who are happy to volunteer. For children, their parents or guardians will need to give permission, and the children themselves will also need to agree to take part. Adult volunteers will also need to give their consent.

If you have a long-term balance problem that affects your inner ear, you might be able to participate. This includes children who are already seen at Necker Hospital's ENT department (for ear, nose, and throat issues) and adults seen at specific balance clinics in other hospitals.

We're also looking for control volunteers who don't have these inner ear problems. These could be children seen at Necker Hospital for other reasons, or their brothers, sisters, or parents. However, you can't join the study if you have eye problems (including needing glasses) or a brain condition like epilepsy, or any illness that affects your movement and might stop you from doing the tasks in the study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you or your child aged between 7 and 17 (if a child) or an adult volunteer?
Do you or your child have a long-term balance problem linked to the inner ear, or are you a healthy volunteer?
Can you or your child see clearly (even if you wear glasses)?
Do you or your child have epilepsy or any condition that affects movement?
Are you (the parent/guardian) able to give permission if your child is under 18?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you won't need to take any medication. The study will involve giving you some standard balance and inner ear tests, and then you'll try out a virtual reality program. The researchers will be studying your hand-eye coordination during these VR sessions. We don't have information on the exact number of visits, the total duration of your participation, or any follow-up appointments, but the team will explain all of this to you in detail if you are interested in joining.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer several potential benefits, including helping researchers better understand balance problems in children and developing new, fun ways to help them in the future. You might also gain a clearer understanding of your own balance function. As with any study involving virtual reality, there's a small chance of feeling dizzy or experiencing eyestrain during the VR sessions, but the researchers will ensure your safety and comfort. Remember, your participation is completely voluntary, and you are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason.

Locations (1)

Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades
Verified postcode
Paris, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is a 'vestibular deficit'?

It means there's a problem with your inner ear system that helps you with balance and knowing where you are in space.

Why use virtual reality (VR)?

VR is a fun and safe way to create special experiences that can help the brain learn to use other senses, like sight, to improve balance.

Will this study help my child directly?

While the main goal is research, the study aims to develop tools that could lead to better ways to diagnose and help children with balance issues in the future.

Is virtual reality safe for children?

The researchers believe VR is a particularly safe and suitable tool for children in this study, and they will ensure your child's comfort.

What does 'multisensory integration' mean?

It's how your brain takes information from all your senses (like sight, hearing, and touch) and puts it together to understand the world around you.

How to find out more

Françoise Denoyelle, MD, PhD

f.denoyelle@aphp.fr 1 71 39 67 85 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.