Repercussions of the Degrees of Hearing Loss and Vestibular Dysfunction on the Static Balance of Children With Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Renato S Melo; Andrea Lemos; Maria Cristina Falcão Raposo; Milena Guimarães Monteiro; Daniel Lambertz; Karla Mônica Ferraz

doi:10.1093/ptj/pzab177

Repercussions of the Degrees of Hearing Loss and Vestibular Dysfunction on the Static Balance of Children With Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Phys Ther. 2021 Oct 1;101(10):pzab177. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzab177.

Authors

Renato S Melo¹, Andrea Lemos², Maria Cristina Falcão Raposo³, Milena Guimarães Monteiro¹, Daniel Lambertz¹, Karla Mônica Ferraz¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, Laboratory of Pediatric Studies (LEPed), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
² Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
³ Department of Statistics, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.

PMID: 34270771
DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzab177

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the static balance of children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) according to the degrees of SNHL and the function of the vestibular system.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in public schools located in Caruaru, Pernambuco state, Brazil, with 130 children (65 with normal hearing and 65 with SNHL as documented by air and bone conduction audiometry) of both sexes between 7 and 11 years old. Static balance was assessed by a stabilometric analysis using a force platform consisting of the circular area of center-of-pressure displacement of the children evaluated in 3 positions: bipedal support with feet together and parallel (PF), tandem feet (TF), and 1 foot (OF), carried out under 2 sensory conditions each, with eyes open and eyes closed. After balance assessments, the children with SNHL received examinations of auditory and vestibular functions-through audiometry and computerized vectoelectronystagmography, respectively-to compose the groups according to degrees of SNHL and vestibular function.

Results: The children with severe and profound SNHL demonstrated more static balance instabilities than the children with normal hearing in 5 positions assessed with eyes open (PF, TF, and OF) and eyes closed (PF and TF). The same phenomenon occurred in children with SNHL and associated vestibular dysfunction in all of the positions assessed with eyes open and eyes closed (PF, TF, and OF).

Conclusion: The larger the degree of SNHL, the greater the balance instability of the children. The children with SNHL and associated vestibular dysfunction showed the highest balance instabilities in this study.

Impact: Children with larger degrees of SNHL and associated vestibular dysfunction might require prolonged periods to rehabilitate their balance.

Keywords: Cochlear Implants; Deaf; Hearing Impairment; Motor Skills Disorders; Postural Balance; Vestibular Diseases.

MeSH terms

Case-Control Studies
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Electronystagmography
Female
Hearing Loss / complications
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / complications*
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / therapy
Humans
Male
Motor Skills Disorders / complications*
Postural Balance / physiology*
Sensation Disorders / complications*
Sensation Disorders / diagnosis
Sensation Disorders / etiology*
Sensation Disorders / physiopathology
Vestibular Diseases / complications*
Vestibular Diseases / diagnosis
Vestibular Function Tests
Vestibule, Labyrinth / pathology*