Age at menarche in deaf girls

Using the status quo and retrospective methods, age at menarche was estimated for a sample of 212 deaf girls 7 through 20 years of age. Median age at menarche via probit analysis was 11.91 +/- 0.25 years, while the mean based on recalled age in older girls (greater than or equal to 15.5 years) was 12.56 +/- 0.16 years. These two estimates thus differ by approximately 0.6 years. The probit estimate of median age at menarche in deaf girls is similar to mean ages reported for blind girls. However, the retrospective age is later. Thus, the present data are inconclusive as to whether the sensory deprivation imposed by deafness has an accelerating effect on menarche similar to that hypothesized for light deprivation in blind girls.