Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 31, 2025
A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training
Published on: January 20, 2019
Hearing Status and Static Postural Control of Collegiate Athletes
Matthew P Brancaleone1, Maria K Talarico2, Laura C Boucher1,3
1School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus.
Context:
Because of the close proximity of the cochlea, vestibular apparatus, and shared neurovascular structures, the static postural control of athletes who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HoH) may be different from that of athletes who are hearing. Limited research is available to quantify differences between these athletes.
Objective:
To determine the effect of hearing status and stance condition on the static postural control of athletes.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Athletic training facilities.
Patients Or Other Participants:
Fifty-five collegiate varsity athletes who were D/HoH (age = 20.62 ± 1.80 years, height = 1.73 ± 0.08 m, mass = 80.34 ± 18.92 kg) and 100 university club athletes who were hearing (age = 20.11 ± 1.59 years, height = 1.76 ± 0.09 m, mass = 77.66 ± 14.37 kg).
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Participants completed the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance on a triaxial force plate. Anteroposterior and mediolateral (ML) center-of-pressure (CoP) velocity, anteroposterior and ML CoP amplitude root mean square, and 95% ellipse sway area were calculated.
Results:
Athletes who were D/HoH had a larger CoP velocity, larger ML root mean square, and larger sway area than those who were hearing (P values < .01). A significant main effect of stance condition was observed for all postural control variables (P values < .01).
Conclusions:
During the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance, athletes who were D/HoH demonstrated a larger sway area compared with athletes who were hearing. Therefore, individualized baseline assessments of static postural control may be warranted for athletes who are D/HoH as opposed to comparisons with existing normative data.
