UDC

612.88+85

Authors

Danilova Raisa Ignatyevna, Integrated Safety Institute, Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (Arkhangelsk, Russia) 

Abstract

According to numerous studies, about 6–8 % of the world’s population have hearing disorders of some kind, 80 % of which account for sensorineural hearing loss. Around 2 % of the population have pronounced bilateral hearing loss; more than 13 million Russians suffer from sensorineural hearing loss. It is known that the physical development of school age children with hearing disorders is at a lower level compared to their hearing peers. Maintaining vertical position of the body is one of the most important factors of human life allowing one to actively interact with the environment. What is more, it is an active, dynamic process involving a number of body systems. To date, postural stability of this category of children has not been explored enough. In our study, we assessed postural stability in deaf children aged 7–9 years applying stabilometry and performed tests on the subjects with eyes open and closed as well as the test with reduced proprioceptive sensitivity using a foam rubber mat. The comparative analysis of the tests with eyes open and closed showed that vertical stability in deaf children is reduced and visual deprivation leads to a greater postural imbalance than in their healthy peers. The most significant differences were obtained during the test with reduced proprioceptive sensitivity. Presumably, hard-of-hearing children have certain vestibular disorders, their compensatory mechanism being the proprioceptive system.

Keywords

children, hearing impairment, hearing loss, vertical stability, balance, proprioception, stabilometry.

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