Vestibular symptoms in children with complaints of school difficulties

PURPOSE: To study vestibular symptoms in children with complaints of school difficulties. METHODS: Eighty-eight children between seven and 12 years old were studied. The subjects attended public schools from Piracicaba - SP (Brazil) during the period from 2004 to 2006. The procedures included: anamnesis, otorhinolaryngological examination, audiological examination, and a directed questionnaire used as an instrument for data gathering. RESULTS: From the evaluated children, 51% had no complaints of school difficulties, and 49% reported school difficulties. The most common complaint reported was vertigo (22.7%), and the most common symptoms reported in school environment were anxiety (95.5%) and chronic headache (53.4%). The most cited school difficulties were reading (56.8%) and copying (43.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Vertigo complaints and reading and copying difficulties presented a statistically significant relation in children with complaints of school difficulties.OBJETIVO: Estudar os sintomas vestibulares em crianças com queixas de dificuldades escolares. MÉTODOS: Foram estudadas 88 crianças entre sete e 12 anos, que freqüentavam escolas públicas da cidade de Piracicaba no período de 2004 a 2006. Os procedimentos utilizados foram: a anamnese; exame otorrinolaringológico; exame audiológico e questionário dirigido utilizado como instrumento de coleta de dados. RESULTADOS: Das crianças avaliadas 51% não relataram dificuldades escolares e 49% referiram ter dificuldades escolares. A queixa referida mais comum foi a de vertigem (22,7%), e os sintomas referidos mais comuns no ambiente escolar foram de ansiedade (95,5%) e cefaléia (53,4%), as dificuldades escolares mais citadas foram a de ler (56,8%) e a de copiar (43,2%). CONCLUSÕES: A queixa de tontura e as dificuldades em ler e copiar apresentaram relação estatisticamente significante nas crianças com queixas de dificuldades escolares.36236