2026 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 15-17, 2026 • Jacksonville, FL
| Early Vestibular Monitoring in Congenital Cytomegalovirus: Addressing Care Gaps
Early Vestibular Monitoring in Congenital Cytomegalovirus: Addressing Care Gaps
Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is among the most common viral infections in infancy and remains the leading cause of non-genetic sensorineural hearing loss worldwide. Less acknowledged in the setting of cCMV is the prevalent and highly variable sequela of vestibular dysfunction, which may present as gross motor delays, impaired postural control, hypotonia, and imbalance during the earliest years of development. Routine monitoring of the vestibular system in this population, especially those with coexisting hearing loss at greater risk of impairment, is of critical importance yet remains largely absent from standard clinical practice.
To advance the timely detection and management of balance disorders in cCMV-infected children with diagnosed hearing loss, key gaps in current diagnostic pathways, clinical practices, and caregiver support systems will be highlighted. Operational considerations in the establishment of a clinically feasible, evidence-based screening protocol and referral system will be explored in a multidisciplinary outpatient hospital setting. This work also emphasizes the strategic integration of vestibular screening with targeted cCMV programs at the state level, enabling a comprehensive and unified approach to audiologic and developmental care.
Recognizing that support systems are central to early detection and intervention, this investigation will be supported by the development of family educational materials to increase awareness of the long-term implications of cCMV on the vestibular system. By incorporating reciprocal caregiver report, the study seeks to deepen understanding of the infection’s functional impacts on motor milestones, ensure meaningful family engagement, and guide individualized follow-up.
Ultimately, addressing these foundational gaps may lay the groundwork for a universally accepted pediatric vestibular monitoring protocol for cCMV, aligning early vestibular detection and intervention with established models for hearing. This parallel framework has the potential to transform outcomes by ensuring children have access to both hearing and balance care within the most critical period of brain and motor development.
- The participant will be able to define the implications of cCMV on the vestibular system as it relates to motor development in early childhood.
- The participant will be able to recognize barriers to the establishment of a clinical protocol for early monitoring of vestibular function in the pediatric population with cCMV and coexisting hearing loss.
- The participant will be able to identify the utility of caregiver education and engagement in facilitating timely, multidisciplinary intervention for vestibular disorders in the setting of cCMV.
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Presenters/Authors
Lily Schmutter
(Primary Presenter,Author), University of Miami Department of Otolaryngology, lxs1059@med.miami.edu;
Lily Schmutter is a Doctor of Audiology candidate at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, completing her fourth-year rotational externship at the University of Miami Department of Otolaryngology. She is a passionate student clinician with enthusiasm for evidence-based learning, patient education, and person-centered care across the lifespan. Lily has earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Miami, a background which has encouraged her to implement interdisciplinary approaches in her future audiological practice. Her current clinical areas of interest include vestibular assessment, cochlear implantation, amplification, and tinnitus management.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
No relevant financial relationship exists.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with University of Miami Department of Otolaryngology, Ear Institute.
Nature: .
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Chrisanda Sanchez
(Co-Author), University of Miami Department of Otolaryngology, cmsanchez@med.miami.edu;
Dr. Chrisanda Sanchez is a bilingual pediatric audiologist at the University of Miami. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology and the Director of the Children’s Hearing Program at the University of Miami. Dr. Sanchez’s clinical career has centered around pediatrics, specializing in pediatric cochlear implants, hearing aids, and other implantable devices. Her research focuses on improving access to hearing healthcare for Spanish speaking patients and implantable devices, specifically targeting pediatric device implantation and outcomes.
ASHA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
• Receives Salary for Employment from University of Miami.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
AAA DISCLOSURE:
Financial -
Financial relationship with University of Miami.
Nature: Employed by UM.
Nonfinancial -
No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.