BACKGROUND: Sensorineural hearing loss is the most common type of permanent hearing impairment and results in balance and motor deficits in children which may affect and/or delay all developmental indicators. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the consequences of sensorineural hearing loss regarding fine motor skills in children and adolescents. METHODS: Two hundred children with an age range between 7 to 18 years and diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss were selected from the Public School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in El-Minia district, Minia governorate, Egypt. The outcome was assessed by the use of Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition scale (BOT-2) to measure fine motor skills. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between the scores of Fine Motor Precision and Fine Motor Integration subtests of each study subgroup and its counterpart subgroup in the control group (normative values according to the scale) which has the same age and gender characteristics where p value equals (0.0008 or less, 0.0009 or less) respectively, with a large effect size less than –0.83. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that children with sensorineural hearing loss have a defect in their fine motor skills when compared to normal children of the same gender and age groups according to Bruininks-Oseretsky scale.

Background. The treatment of scars caused by burn is a difficult challenge in developing countries that includes enormous treatment cost. Burn scars tend to get worse with hypertrophy and contracture, leading to limitations of function. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to therapeutic ultrasound (US) on hypertrophic scar in pediatric burns. Methods. 45 children participated in the study, their age ranges from 12 to 15 years of age, suffering from hypertrophic scars. Each scar divided to 2 identical halves. One half received (LLLT) with deep friction massage and the other received therapeutic ultrasound with deep friction massage. Participants were assessed pre & post two months of study by Ultrasonography and Vancouver Scar Scale. Results. Significant improvement was reported in both halves of scar but laser was more effective in decreasing scar height, and lowering Vancouver scale score (p < 0.0001). Conclusion. LLLT and US are proficient and secure modalities for post-burn hypertrophic scars treatment in children.

Introduction: Nonspecific neck pain is a frequent cause for adults to consult health care providers. Therefore, the physical therapist should always seek the most effective intervention(s) within the wide spectrum of treatments available, so this study was conducted to examine the effect of transcranial laser on somatosensory integration in nonspecific neck pain patients.Methods: Thirty-two male subjects suffering from non-specific neck pain participated in the current study. They were randomly assigned via a balanced stratified assignment. The experimental group (N=16) received trans-cranial infra-red laser (50mw, 90 snm pulsed mode, and 1.2 J/cm 2) over sensory cortex whereas, the control group (N=16) received placebo laser. The assessment of N30 and P22-N30 components of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were done before and immediately after treatment session for both groups.Results: There was a statistically significant difference between groups regarding N30 peak of SEPs after a single trans-cranial laser session (p=0.0062) with no significant difference between pre and post-treatment data in the experimental group (p=0.0803) and control group (p=0.5577) with a percentage of change (-2.38%) and (1.009%) respectively. In addition, post-treatment results revealed no statistically significant difference between groups regarding an a P22-N30 component of SEPs (p=0.0933). Conclusion:According to the parameters used in the study, it was concluded that trans-cranial laser did not affect somatosensory integration in nonspecific neck pain patients.

Background: Childhood hearing impairment is a major disability associated with delayed motor development. The affected Fine motor performance in children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) could be due to dynamic balance deficits and visual-motor incoordination. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effects of fine motor exercises with or without balancing exercises on fine motor skills in children with SNHL. Methods: One hundred and eighty (180) children their age ranged from 8 to 18 years old diagnosed with SNHL were selected. They were divided into three groups, 60 children (control group) practiced only their ordinary activities of daily living, 60 children (fine motor exercises group) practiced fine motor exercises, and 60 children (fine motor and balance exercise) group practiced fine motor and balance exercises. The outcomes were assessed by the Bruininks Oseretsky Test of the motor proficiency second edition scale (BOT-2). Results: Generally, there was a statistically significant difference between control group and fine motor exercises group where (p <  0.05), besides, there was a statistically significant difference between control group and fine motor and balance exercises group where (p <  0.05). But, there was no statistically significant difference between fine motor exercises group and fine motor and balance exercises group where (p >  0.05). Conclusions: The Fine Motor performance of children with SNHL has been improved by Fine motor with or without balancing exercises according to (BOT-2).