[Evaluation of the static equilibrium in a population of hearing impaired children]

A random sample was organized with 42 children with congenital sensorineural auditory deficit (severe and bilateral) from special education schools in Campinas. Chronological ages ranged from 4 to 7 years of age. This sample was compared with two control groups of 42 children of the same chronological age but attending normal classes. All were submitted to 9 tests of the set of static equilibrium of the Evolutive Neurologic Examination. It was observed that in the position of equilibrium with opened eyes (test 8) there were no differences between the groups. In the Romberg position, the hearing impaired children of 4, 5 and 6 years of age showed a significant decrease in the ability to do the test (test 9); those of 7 years of age had equal ability whether of the control or the deficient groups. Hearing impaired children were less able to do other static equilibrium tests (heel-toe or one foot or tip-toe standing tests, with opened or closed eyes: tests 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 25 and 26). The use of detailed neurological semiology allowed us to support the alteration of the static equilibrium in this group of hearing impaired children.