Modification of the postrotary nystagmus test for evaluating young children

Zoe Mailloux; Marco Leão; Tracy Ann Becerra; Annie Baltazar Mori; Elisabeth Soechting; Susanne Smith Roley; Nicole Buss; Sharon A Cermak

doi:10.5014/ajot.2014.011031

Modification of the postrotary nystagmus test for evaluating young children

Am J Occup Ther. 2014 Sep-Oct;68(5):514-21. doi: 10.5014/ajot.2014.011031.

Authors

Zoe Mailloux¹, Marco Leão², Tracy Ann Becerra³, Annie Baltazar Mori⁴, Elisabeth Soechting⁵, Susanne Smith Roley⁶, Nicole Buss⁷, Sharon A Cermak⁸

Affiliations

¹ Zoe Mailloux, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, Jefferson School of Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, and Professional and Program Development Consultant, 407 Camino de Encanto, Redondo Beach, CA 90277; zoemailloux@gmail.com.
² Marco Leão is Private Practitioner and Vice President, 7Senses, Integração Sensorial, Porto, Portugal.
³ Tracy Ann Becerra, PhD, MPH, OTR/L, is Research Associate, Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Redondo Beach, CA.
⁴ Annie Baltazar Mori, OTD, OTR/L, is Private Practitioner and Owner, PlaySense Therapy, Torrance, CA.
⁵ Elisabeth Soechting, MA, OTR/L, is Private Practitioner and Owner, SPIELSTUDIO Kindertherapie, Vienna, Austria, and PhD Candidate, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna.
⁶ Susanne Smith Roley, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Adjunct Clinical Faculty, Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles.
⁷ Nicole Buss, OTD, OTR/L, is Private Practitioner, Palos Verdes, CA.
⁸ Sharon A. Cermak, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA, is Professor of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, USC, and Professor of Pediatrics, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA.

PMID: 25184463
DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2014.011031

Abstract

This article explores the use of the postrotary nystagmus (PRN) test for children younger than current norms (children 4.0 yr-8.11 yr). In the first study, 37 children ages 4-9 yr were examined in the standard testing position and in an adult-held adapted position to determine whether holding a child affected the reflex. Because the position did not affect the reflex, in the second study, PRN in 44 children ages 2 mo-47 mo was compared with published normative mean raw scores for 44 children age 5 yr to determine whether norms for older children were applicable to younger children. No statistically significant differences were found between <4-yr-old and 5-yr-old children, suggesting that the PRN test can be used in infants and toddlers with valid comparison to current norms for 4-yr-olds on the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (4.0 yr-8.11 yr). Future research exploring the predictive value of this measure is warranted.

MeSH terms

Child, Preschool
Eye Movements*
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Rotation
Sensation Disorders / diagnosis*
Sensation Disorders / physiopathology
Vestibular Function Tests / methods*