Balance as a phenomenon in individuals with hearing impairment - how the motor skills are influenced
Abstract
Foundations: There is a broad evidence in present research of motoric differences in individuals with hearing impairment, especially in case of gross motor skills. The possible reasons are expected to be in physiological connection of hearing and equilibrum functions in vestibulocochlear apparatus.
Aims: The aim of the present study was an evaluation of motor skills of first grade children from elementary school for children with hearing impairment. Methods: 28 children (10 girls a 18 boys, age 6 to 14 years (Ø 10,0+-2,1) with hearing impairment participated in the study.
Their average weight was 38,4+-14,5 kg and average height 140+-16 cm. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition (MABC-2) was used for motor skills testing.
This tool subdivided participants into three zones with specific colours. The green zone - motor skills are within a normal range; the orange zone - there are mild deviations; the red zone - movement disorders are present.
The assessment battery separately tests fine motor skills (manual skills), gross motor skills (catching and throwing) and balance. The final score is calculated based on the constituent tests.
Results of our study were compared with normative scores for Czech population of able-bodied children. Results: Total motor skills (balance, fine and gross motor skills) in children with hearing impairment were significantly worse compared to the reference group.
There was 43 % of children in the green zone (motor skills within a normal range), 21 % of children had mild deviations (the orange zone) and 36 % of children had movement disorders (the red zone). The children with hearing impairment demonstrated severe difficulties in catching and aiming.
Against our expectations, the balance was their strong point - there was 68 % of children in the green zone. Conclusions: The study showed higher evidence of motor problems in children with hearing impairment.
Significant problems were present in gross motor skills, mild problems were present in fine motor skills. The expected problems with balance were not confirmed.