Abstract:

Aim: The Pediatric Vestibular Symptom Questionnaire (PVSQ) identifies and measures subjective vestibular symptoms such as dizziness and imbalance in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish PVSQ in children with dizziness and balance disorders. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two children (10.9±3.28 years) with complaints of dizziness and 40 healthy children (9.65±2.45 years) aged 6-17 years in the control group were included in the study. The scale normalized score ranges from 0-3. The reliability of the scale was evaluated by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and validity was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). ROC curve was used to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of PVSQ in discriminating healthy children from those with vestibular symptoms. Results: The mean PVSQ score of the children included in the study group was 9.81±6.16, and the control group was 1.10±3.12, and a statistically significant difference was found between the mean scores of the two groups (p<0.001). As a result of CFA, it was seen that the model was compatible. Turkish PVSQ has a high degree of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.890). The cut-off point of the PVSQ was 0.35, and the maximum sensitivity of the scale was 0.885, and the specificity was 0.950 at this point. Conclusion: Turkish version of the PVSQ, used in the diagnosis and evaluation of dizziness and balance disorders in children, is a reliable, valid, easy to use, and brief measurement tool in the evaluation and severity of vestibular symptoms in children.

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