Understanding vertigo and balance disorders in children Vertigo in children may go undiagnosed as they often are not able to describe their problem clearly It is a surprise to many people that the ear's primary function is not hearing, but maintaining the balance of the body. The vestibular system acts as a gyroscope and accelerometer, sensing the head's position and movement and the body's position. It then sends this information to the brain, which coordinates various parts of the body to maintain balance. When things go wrong in the balance system, the person gets a feeling of spinning or unsteadiness, which is called vertigo. Vertigo and dizziness are considered disorders affecting the older population, but they may be seen in children as well. Vestibular disorders are seen in around 6% of children between the ages of three to 17 years. Children with hearing loss often have associated vestibular dysfunction as well.