Effects of Prematurity on Vestibular Function Assessed Using Cervical Vestibular-evoked Myogenic Potentials and Association with Motor Development in Children

The vestibular system plays a crucial role in achieving motor milestones, including sitting and walking. Prematurity can lead to vestibular immaturity, potentially delaying motor development. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between prematurity, vestibular function as measured by cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMP), and the achievement of gross motor milestones in children aged 2–4 years. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 42 children aged 2–4 years (30 term children, 12 preterm children) with normal hearing. cVEMP tests with the Interacoustic Eclipse EP15 system recorded the P13 and N23 latencies and the asymmetry ratio (AR). Independent t -tests were used to compare the vestibular parameters between groups, and stepwise multiple linear regression identified predictors of age at sitting and walking. Preterm children showed significantly shorter P13 and N23 latencies and lower AR compared to term children ( P < 0.001). Gender, prematurity, birthweight, N23 latency, and AR were the significant predictors of age at sitting (adjusted R 2 = 0.457; P < 0.001), while birth weight, N23 latency, and AR predicted age at walking (adjusted R 2 = 0.370; P < 0.001). Prematurity was not a significant predictor of motor delay for the age of walking. Despite differences in cVEMP parameters, prematurity alone was not associated with delays in sitting or walking, suggesting multifactorial influences and compensatory vestibular maturation at 2–4 years of age. These findings suggest that mild-to-moderate prematurity does not cause permanent gross motor impairment in early childhood.