Gait performance of children and adolescents with sensorineural hearing loss.

BACKGROUND Several studies have demonstrated that children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) may exhibit balance disorders, which can compromise the gait performance of this population. OBJECTIVE Compare the gait performance of normal hearing (NH) children and those with SNHL, considering the sex and age range of the sample, and analyze gait performance according to degrees of hearing loss and etiological factors in the latter group. METHOD This is a cross-sectional study that assessed 96 students, 48 NH and 48 with SNHL, aged between 7 and 18 years. The Brazilian version of the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) was used to analyze gait and the Mann-Whitney test for statistical analysis. RESULTS The group with SNHL obtained lower average gait performance compared to NH subjects (p=0.000). This was also observed when the children were grouped by sex female and male (p=0.000). The same difference occurred when the children were stratified by age group: 7-18 years (p=0.000). The group with severe and profound hearing loss exhibited worse gait performance than those with mild and moderate loss (p=0.048) and children with prematurity as an etiological factor demonstrated the worst gait performance. CONCLUSION The children with SNHL showed worse gait performance compared to NH of the same sex and age group. Those with severe and profound hearing loss and prematurity as an etiological factor demonstrated the worst gait performances.

[1]  F. Lin,et al.  Association Between Hearing Impairment and Lower Levels of Physical Activity in Older Adults , 2014, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

[2]  M. R. Perracini,et al.  Versão brasileira do Dynamic Gait Index , 2006 .

[3]  Z. Jafari,et al.  The effect of saccular function on static balance ability of profound hearing-impaired children. , 2011, International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology.

[4]  R. Melo,et al.  Postural Evaluation of Vertebral Column in Children and Teenagers with Hearing Loss , 2011, Arquivos Internacionais de Otorrinolaringologia.

[5]  K. Kaga,et al.  Assessment of vestibular function of infants and children with congenital and acquired deafness using the ice-water caloric test, rotational chair test and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential recording , 2007, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[6]  Kimitaka Kaga,et al.  Relationship between acquisition of motor function and vestibular function in children with bilateral severe hearing loss , 2014, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[7]  M. C. Raposo,et al.  Head Position Comparison between Students with Normal Hearing and Students with Sensorineural Hearing Loss , 2013, International archives of otorhinolaryngology.

[8]  A. Tribukait,et al.  Function of semicircular canals, utricles and saccules in deaf children , 2004, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[9]  M. C. Mancini,et al.  Comparação do desempenho funcional de crianças portadoras de síndrome de down e crianças com desenvolvimento normal aos 2 e 5 anos de idade , 2003 .

[10]  M. Perracini,et al.  Dynamic Gait Index - Brazilian Version , 2006, Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology.

[11]  F. Horak,et al.  Motor proficiency associated with vestibular deficits in children with hearing impairments. , 1988, Physical therapy.

[12]  S. Iwasaki,et al.  Effect of Vestibular Dysfunction on the Development of Gross Motor Function in Children with Profound Hearing Loss , 2013, Audiology and Neurotology.

[13]  R. Rine,et al.  Evidence of Progressive Delay of Motor Development in Children with Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Concurrent Vestibular Dysfunction , 2000, Perceptual and motor skills.

[14]  Ingeborg Dhooge,et al.  Association Between Vestibular Function and Motor Performance in Hearing-impaired Children , 2014, Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology.

[15]  C. Poon,et al.  Balance performance in children with unilateral and bilateral severe-to-profound-grade hearing impairment , 2013 .

[16]  S. Mccoy,et al.  Investigation of the Dynamic Gait Index in Children: A Pilot Study , 2011, Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association.

[17]  Kimitaka Kaga,et al.  Vestibular failure in children with congenital deafness , 2008, International journal of audiology.

[18]  Daneshmandi Hasan,et al.  The comparison of head and neck alignment in children with visual and hearing impairments and its relation with anthropometrical dimensions , 2014 .

[19]  M. Hadders‐Algra,et al.  The development of postural adjustments during reaching in 6- to 18-month-old infants Evidence for two transitions , 1999, Experimental Brain Research.

[20]  R. S. Melo.  Ampleness of head movements of children and adolescents with sensorineural hearing loss. , 2017 .

[21]  L. Hughes,et al.  Vestibular Deficits in Deaf Children , 1996, Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

[22]  A. Lemos,et al.  Desempenho do equilíbrio dinâmico de escolares ouvintes e com perda auditiva sensorioneural , 2014 .

[23]  G. Cioni,et al.  Neurodevelopmental disorders in children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss: a clinical study , 2010, Developmental medicine and child neurology.

[24]  M. Hadders‐Algra,et al.  Postural adjustments during spontaneous and goal-directed arm movements in the first half year of life , 1999, Behavioural Brain Research.

[25]  C. Yi,et al.  Age-related changes of single-limb standing balance in children with and without deafness. , 2009, International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology.

[26]  P. Brookhouser,et al.  Vestibular Findings in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing , 1982, Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

[27]  J. Arnvig.  Vestibular function in deafness and severe hardness of hearing. , 1955, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[28]  L. Hopkins,et al.  Auditory function studies in an unselected group of pupils at the clarke school for the deaf.: III. Relation between hearing acuity and vestibular function , 1936 .

[29]  A. Jafarnezhadgero,et al.  Gait ground reaction force characteristics in deaf and hearing children. , 2017, Gait & posture.

[30]  B. Papsin,et al.  Evidence of Vestibular and Balance Dysfunction in Children With Profound Sensorineural Hearing Loss Using Cochlear Implants , 2008, The Laryngoscope.

[31]  L. Ferrucci,et al.  Hearing loss and gait speed among older adults in the United States. , 2013, Gait & posture.

[32]  Funda Demirtürk,et al.  Comparison of Balance and Gait in Visually or Hearing Impaired Children , 2010, Perceptual and motor skills.

[33]  S. Wiener-Vacher.  Vestibular disorders in children , 2008, International journal of audiology.

[34]  S. Walt,et al.  Reliability of upper and lower limb three-dimensional kinematics in children with hemiplegia. , 2005, Gait & posture.

[35]  P. Rochat.  Self-sitting and reaching in 5- to 8-month-old infants: the impact of posture and its development on early eye-hand coordination. , 1992, Journal of motor behavior.

[36]  R. P. Guilder,et al.  Auditory function studies in an unselected group of pupils at the clarke school for the deaf: I. general survey of hearing acuity , 1936 .

[37]  Rafael Miranda Tassitano,et al.  Avaliação do equilíbrio corporal e da marcha: estudo comparativo entre surdos e ouvintes em idade escolar , 2012 .

[38]  R. Tassitano,et al.  Balance and gait evaluation: comparative study between deaf and hearing students , 2012 .