Characteristics of vestibular function and static balance skills in deaf children

The vestibular function and static balance skills of 34 children who had sensorineural deafness, ranged in age from 5 to 9 years, and attended the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf were compared with normative data. The purpose of the investigation was to describe the characteristics of vestibular function and static balance skill in deaf children who had no other known handicaps. We explored the relationship between these two characteristics. The Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus test and the Standing Balance subtests (eyes open and closed) of the Southern California Sensory Integration tests were used to evaluate the deaf children. Comparison of study results with norms revealed a significant difference in duration of postrotary nystagmus between hearing and deaf children. Balance skills were not significantly related to level of vestibular response. No significant sex differences were found in the vestibular or balance status of the deaf children. The differences in the characteristics of vestibular function and static balance skills in the deaf children compared with hearing children are important to therapists working with the deaf. Therapists should consider that these differences exist when they identify those deaf children with learning or other sensory-motor problems. Therapists familiar with the use of the Southern California Sensory Integration tests and Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus test must be cautious in using these tests with the deaf until they are standardized for this group.