Paediatric Vestibular Assessment in Children with Hearing Impairment

Darren holds an undergraduate degree in audiology and postgraduate master’s degrees in health science, neurophysiology, and clinical research. His resumé includes several clinical positions in the National Health Service (NHS). Prior to his current occupation as an International Clinical Trainer in the Interacoustics Academy, Darren held a clinical audiology and research scientist role in the UK, where he investigated patients with auditory and vestibular pathology, and managed a portfolio of NIHR adopted research studies. He has been a guest speaker at national and international conventions, enjoys teaching and providing clinical insights on the management of patients with dizziness and is a contributing author on published audiological and vestibular articles. Darren has also been an adjunct professor at Salus University in the USA, lecturing on the Doctor of Audiology degree.

Leen Maes is an audiologist and appointed as associate professor (80%) at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the Ghent University and as scientific employee (20%) at the ENT Department of the University Hospital Ghent. She is specialized in vestibular assessment techniques. Her vestibular research group (BalanceCare4Kids) investigates the impact of a vestibular dysfunction on the motor and cognitive function in healthy as well as vestibular-impaired children; the vestibular system of hearing-impaired children, children with a neurodevelopmental disorder, and children with hypotonia; and the impact of a congenital cytomegalovirus infection and a cochlear implant on the vestibular function of children. She initiated a vestibular screening of each hearing-impaired new-born child in Flanders (VIS-Flanders project; www.vis-flanders.be), which is the first vestibular screening program worldwide. Her latest project (VIS-REHAB) is focused on optimizing the vestibular rehabilitation trajectory of children with a vestibular dysfunction in Flanders.