2026-10-06T17:29:17Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34040538 2026-10-01T08:06:20Z category_27010 category_30298 item_type_12 month_year_10_2026

Structural and functional alterations of the central vestibular system in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder: a scoping review protocol Emmely Van Acker (24303485) Noor Temmerman (25153699) Ruth Van Hecke (22081586) Frederik Deconinck (25153706) Leen Maes (25153708) Audiology Child and adolescent development central vestibular system Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Scoping review <p dir="ltr">Balance difficulties are commonly observed in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), yet the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these impairments remain poorly understood. Findings from vestibular and neuroimaging research suggest that alterations within the central vestibular system, a hierarchical neural network encompassing the brainstem, cerebellum, subcortical, and cortical regions, may reflect a shared neurobiological mechanism across these neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). However, no review to date has systematically mapped which structures within the central vestibular system are affected across DCD, ADHD, and ASD, nor how these alterations may contribute to balance difficulties.</p><p dir="ltr">This protocol outlines a scoping review that will systematically identify, map, and synthesize the available evidence on structural and functional alterations within the central vestibular system in children with DCD, ADHD, and/or ASD. The review will be conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and reported following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Comprehensive searches will be performed in MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus, alongside targeted searches of grey literature. Eligible studies will include neuroimaging investigations of central vestibular structures in children aged 4 to 18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of DCD, ADHD, and/or ASD. Data will be extracted and synthesized narratively, with findings organized according to anatomical region (brainstem, cerebellum, subcortical, and cortical structures) and NDD-diagnosis.</p><p dir="ltr">By consolidating evidence across these disorders, this review aims to clarify the involvement of central vestibular structures in balance and motor impairments in children with NDDs. These findings will help characterize shared and disorder-specific patterns of neural alterations, and identify priorities for future research.</p> 2026-10-01T08:06:20Z Text Preprint 10.6084/m9.figshare.34040538.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/preprint/Structural_and_functional_alterations_of_the_central_vestibular_system_in_children_with_Developmental_Coordination_Disorder_Attention-Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder_and_Autism_Spectrum_Disorder_a_scoping_review_protocol/34040538 CC BY 4.0