Motor performance and correlates of mental health in children who are deaf or hard of hearing

Abstract

SDQStrengths and Difficulties Questionnaire ZNA Z€ urich Neuromotor Assessment AIM This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between motor performance and mental health in a representative population of children with hearing impairment.METHOD Ninety-three pupils (45 males, 48 females) aged 6 years to 16 years (mean 11y 3mo, SD 2y 9mo) with hearing impairment of at least 40dB and a Nonverbal IQ greater than 70 were assessed for motor performance with the Z€ urich Neuromotor Assessment (ZNA) and for mental health with the parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). RESULTS Children with hearing impairment had lower motor performance scores in all fourZNA subscales compared with ZNA norms (z-scores À1.42 to À2.67). After controlling for Nonverbal IQ, ZNA pure motor performance correlated negatively with the SDQ total difficulties score. Pure motor, pegboard, and dynamic balance subscales correlated negatively with peer-relationship problems. Dynamic balance correlated negatively with emotional problems. Performance in pure motor and dynamic balance skills correlated negatively with age. Except for static balance, no correlation was found between motor performance and the degree of hearing impairment.INTERPRETATION Results confirm that a high percentage of children with hearing impairment have poor motor performance. These problems are associated with difficulties in social relationships. Early recognition of these problems may lead to interventions to assist children with hearing impairment with their peer relationships.In Western countries, 1 to 2 of every 1000 children are affected by permanent bilateral hearing loss of at least moderate degree. 1,2 Hearing impairment is associated with a large range of consequences on the child's social, cognitive, emotional, and neuromotor development.3-5 Previous research has concentrated on the impact of hearing impairment on language development and mental health. 3,4,6 With respect to motor performance, several studies have found that children with hearing impairment show deficits in motor development. These studies used a variety of instruments and were based on samples that may not have been representative of the population of children with hearing impairment.5,7-9 Studies reporting normal levels of motor development were based on parent questionnaires (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales) and had no direct motor examination. 10,11 Livingstone and McPhillips showed that about 80% of 25 children with a bilateral hearing impairment >60dB (mean age 8y 8mo) scored in the bottom 15% (borderline) and about 50% in the bottom 5% (definite problems) of the standardized sample of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. 5 In other words, 80% of those with hearing impairment reached the cut-off of motor performance for a possible diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder. 12Considering different aspects of motor development, the greatest deficits were shown in balance and complex motor tasks. 5,7,13 One study matching 32 children wi...

Early identification: Language skills and social functioning in deaf and hard of hearing preschool children

“…Fellinger pointed this out by asking the question: ''What kind of evidence-based interventions need to follow UNHS in order to support families to actively foster the development of a strong identity and positive mental health of their child with PCHI, beyond the drive for 'normalization'?'' [47]. This question calls for longitudinal research designs with a detailed follow-up of DHH children in order to study treatment effects and causality.…”

Scoping Review of Systems to Train Psychomotor Skills in Hearing Impaired Children

“…HI children typically have lower scores on psychomotor scales than normal hearing (NH) children [2,8]. For instance, more than the 30% of HI children showed retardation in the acquisition of head control or independent gait [9].…”

“…For instance, more than the 30% of HI children showed retardation in the acquisition of head control or independent gait [9]. Poor motor performance does not appear to affect self-efficacy in HI children [10], but it has been related to language deficiencies, poorer symbolic play, emotion dysregulation and social difficulties in interacting with other children [8,11]. Children with cochlear implanta show a drop in their gross motor performance coinciding with surgery, and a period of at least two years is needed to recover the developmental delay [12].…”

Motor difficulties and mental health in children who are deaf

“…2,[4][5][6] This data 2-6 suggest that apart from the type and severity of the motor disability, a neuromotor intervention program for children with CP may be influenced by the child's age and level of cognition as well as sociodemographic factors (e.g. type of insurance, parental education).…”

“…2 Recent research on motor development in hearing children has found that children with coordination problems, such as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), are at increased risk of a range of physical and mental health problems, including internalizing problems, such as anxiety and depression. 3 There has been little research, if any, on the possible associations between motor skills and mental health in children and adolescents who are deaf or partial hearing, and so the article by Fellinger et al 4 is very timely. They found that 57% of children and adolescents (aged 6-16y) with hearing impairment in their sample had significant motor difficulties (scoring in the bottom 5% of a standardized assessment), suggesting high levels of comorbid DCD.…”