Prevalence of Pediatric Dizziness and Imbalance in the United States

Objectives Understand the prevalence of vestibular symptoms in US children. Study Design Cross‐sectional analysis Setting 2016 National Health Interview Survey. Subjects and Methods Responses from the 2016 National Health Interview Survey for children ages 3 to 17 years were examined to determine the prevalence of vestibular symptoms and provider‐assigned diagnoses. Results Dizziness or imbalance was reported in 3.5 (95% confidence interval, 3.1‐3.9) million patients (5.6%) with a mean age of 11.5 years. Dizziness was reported in 1.2 million patients (2.0%) with a mean age of 12.7 years and balance impairment in 2.3 million patients (3.7%) with a mean age of 10.6 years. Prevalence of dizziness and imbalance did not vary by sex ( P =. 6, P =. 2). Evaluation by a health professional was reported for 42% of patients with dizziness and 43% of patients with imbalance, with diagnoses reported in 45% and 48% of patients with dizziness and imbalance, respectively. The most common diagnoses reported for dizziness were depression or child psychiatric disorder (12%), side effects from medications (11%), head/neck injury or concussion (8.4%), and developmental motor coordination disorder (8.3%). The most common diagnoses reported for imbalance were blurred vision with head motion, “bouncing” or rapid eye movements (9.1%), depression or child psychiatric disorder (6.2%), head/neck injury or concussion (6.1%), and side effects from medications (5.9%). Conclusion The national prevalence of childhood vestibular symptoms is more common than previously thought. Reported diagnoses varied greatly from the literature, suggesting a need for increased awareness of causes of vestibular symptoms in children.