Normalization of the functional head impulse test in a healthy pediatric population

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the normative values of the fHIT in a healthy pediatric age group. Material and method: The study was conducted with 120 healthy children aged 6 to 18 years at the Audiology Unit of İnönü University Turgut Özal Medical Center between June 2024 and February 2025. The fHIT was administered using test–retest measurements. The obtained Percentage of %CA was analyzed based on age, gender, and test–retest results to assess the reliability of the fHIT. The children were evaluated in three age groups: 6–10 years, 11–13 years, and 14–17 years. Results: Lateral SCC %CA was found as 92.32, posterior SCC %CA as 95.53 and anterior SCC %CA as 94.24. No difference was found between the test-retest results in lateral, posterior and anterior SCC total %CA values (p>0.05). In test-retest responses, no change was observed according to gender in lateral, posterior and anterior SCC average %CA measurements (p>0.05). Only in the right lateral SSK 6000°/s2 test and retest measurements, %CA was statistically significantly higher in women than in men (p<0.05). Conclusion: %CA values were lowest in the 6-10 age group and highest in the 14-17 age group. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). A moderately positive and statistically significant correlation was found between the fHIT test and retest results in the lateral, posterior, and anterior SCC, as determined by Pearson correlation analysis. Keywords: Functional head impulse test, Pediatrics, Vestibular system, Vestibuloocular reflex