Age-Related Balance Changes in Hearing-Impaired Children

Abstract

This study compared balance skills of hearing-impaired children with those of hearing children in order to determine whether a deficit in balance exists in hearing-impaired children and to ascertain whether this deficit is age-related. Twenty-eight hearing-impaired subjects were chosen as a sample of convenience from the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and placed into one of three age groups. Ten subjects were in the 4.5 to 6.5-year-old age group, 8 in the 8- to 10-year-old age group, and 10 in the 12.5 to 14.5-year-old age group. Selection criteria included bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of greater than or equal to 65 dB and normal intelligence (IQ greater than or equal to 80). Balance was measured by the use of the Balance subtest of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. For each age group, a z test was used to compare the subjects' scores with the Balance subtest standard scores. The results showed that for each age group, the mean score for the hearing-impaired children was lower than the standard score. Both older groups had significantly higher scores than the youngest group, but the mean scores of the older groups were not significantly different. No difference between the subjects' balance scores and the Balance subtest standard scores was found among the age groups, suggesting that the balance deficit was not age-related. Gender differences were not found for balance scores.

Comparison of the Static and Dynamic Balance Between Normal-Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Wrestlers

“…For instance, in another study, there was no signifi cant diff erence between the groups in the one-leg standing test with eyes open; however, when performing the same test with eyes closed, the duration of standing was markedly shorter in the hearing-impaired group (Nakajima et al, 2012). When hearing impairment occurs, other sensory perceptions work to recompense the defi cit (Nakajima et al, 2012;Siegel, Marchetti, & Tecklin, 1991). Likewise, in another study conducted by using the one-leg-standing test with eyes closed, hearing-impaired individuals were found to be particularly weaker in balance (Tan et al, 2011).…”

Age-related changes of single-limb standing balance in children with and without deafness

“…These findings suggest that postural development in PD children is delayed progressively. In addition, other studies have shown that delayed postural development in children with hearing impairment persists but does not worsen (Brunt, and Broadhead 1982;Carlson 1972;Siegel, Marchetti, and Tecklin 1991). Carlson (1972) assessed PD children aged 5-10 years using the Brace Motor Ability Test, and found that the motor development of these children adaptively improved up to 7 years of age and then plateaued.…”

“…In fact, impairment or absence of the labyrinthine righting reflex caused by vestibular dysfunction leads to a delay in gross motor and balance functions in children (Kaga 1999). Previous studies have also demonstrated that children with hearing loss show a significant increase in center-of-pressure deviation and bodysway velocity measures made during a static standing balance test, and in the balance performance measure of the subsection item of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP), when compared to normal-hearing (NH) children (Gheysen, Loots, and Van Waelvelde 2007;Rine et al 2000;Siegel, Marchetti, and Tecklin 1991;Suarez et al 2007). …”

“…Previous developmental studies have proposed that PD children can exhibit gradually or consistently retarded development of postural stability (Gheysen, Loots, and Van Waelvelde 2007;Rine et al 2000;Siegel, Marchetti, and Tecklin 1991;Suarez et al 2007). Rine et al (2000) examined balance and gross motor development in children with hearing loss twice, at an interval of 12 months, and found that most children showed a significantly poor performance on both the balance and gross motor tests.…”

“…Carlson (1972) assessed PD children aged 5-10 years using the Brace Motor Ability Test, and found that the motor development of these children adaptively improved up to 7 years of age and then plateaued. In addition, Siegel et al (1991) examined children with hearing loss in three different age groups (4.5-6.5 years, 8-10 years, and 12.5-14.5 years) using the balance subtest of the BOTMP in order to determine age-related changes in balance ability. A comparison with normative data showed that the balance scores of these children were 50% lower than those of the age-matched, NH population in those aged 4.5 to 6.5 years and were 20% lower than the score of the standardized population in the other two age groups (8-10 years and 12.5-14.5 years).…”