Development of an Exercise Program to Improve the Static and Dynamic Balance of Profoundly Hearing-Impaired Children

Abstract

Hearing-impaired children have decreased static and dynamic balance abilities. Sixteen hearing-impaired children, aged 6 to 10 years, participated in this pilot study to assess the effect of a 6-week posture and body awareness activity program on balance. The 11 children in the experimental group participated in a weekly activity program during their physical education class at school; the five members of the control group followed their normal physical education routine. Pre- and posttests showed that the balance of the experimental group improved ( p < .10), whereas the balance of the control group did not improve. These results indicate the need for further research in the area of improving the balance skills of hearing-impaired children.

The effect of interventional proprioceptive training on static balance and gait in deaf children

“…Following the intervention exercise, the amount of sway decreased significantly in deaf children and the initial difference between the groups was significantly reduced. These findings are consistent with those of Lewis et al (1985) and Rine et al (2004) who also found that participation in balance and body awareness programs results in improved balance skills.…”

“…Lewis, Higham, and Cherry (1985) found that participation in a balance and body awareness program resulted in improved balance skills in deaf children; whereas, Effgen (1981) investigated the effect of a 10-day exercise program of static balance activities in deaf children and found that the program did not significantly improve the quality of static balance, in terms of amount of sway.…”

Improvement of motor development and postural control following intervention in children with sensorineural hearing loss and vestibular impairment

“…These results indicate that the progressive nature of the developmental delay was reversed following exercise intervention. Divergent results reported here may be explained, at least in part, by the lack of comprehensive testing of vestibular function and postural control in the previous reports [13,14], thus limiting the intervention to practice of balance. In addition, the nature of the hearing loss was not reported, and the children in these studies [13,14] were beyond the critical period of balance development.…”

“…Effgen [13] studied the effects of single leg stance practice on postural sway measures in 7-11-year-old children with hearing impairment and found no improvement. Lewis et al [14] reported that participation in a balance and body awareness program did result in improved balance skills in 6-8-year-old children with hearing impairment. However, vestibular function and postural control mechanisms were not tested, and the intervention was not focused on facilitation of adaptation and substitution, which has been shown to be efficacious for the improvement of function in adults with vestibular impairments.…”

An overview of motor skill performance and balance in hearing impaired children

“…Hence exercise intervention should be incorporated to improve balance and motor performance. Lewis et al found improvement in balance skill in 6-8 year old children following participation in balance and body awareness program [44]. Braswell and Rine found improvement in dynamic visual acuity, critical print size, and reading acuity following visual-vestibular exercises [45].…”