Static and dynamic balance of children and adolescents with sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the static and dynamic balance performance of students with normal hearing and with sensorineural hearing loss. METHODS: A cross-sectional study assessing 96 students, 48 with normal hearing and 48 with sensorineural hearing loss of both sexes, aged 7 and 18 years. To evaluate static balance, Romberg, Romberg-Barré and Fournier tests were used; and for the dynamic balance, we applied the Unterberger test. RESULTS: Hearing loss students showed more changes in static and dynamic balance as compared to normal hearing, in all tests used (p<0.001). The same difference was found when subjects were grouped by sex. For females, Romberg, Romberg-Barré, Fournier and Unterberger test p values were, respectively, p=0.004, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.023; for males, the p values were p=0.009, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.002, respectively. The same difference was observed when students were classified by age. For 7 to 10 years old students, the p values for Romberg, Romberg-Barré and Fournier tests were, respectively, p=0.007, p<0.001 and p=0.001; for those aged 11 and 14 years, the p values for Romberg, Romberg-Barré, Fournier and Unterberger tests were p=0.002, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.015, respectively; and for those aged 15 and 18 years, the p values for Romberg-Barré, Fournier and Unterberger tests were, respectively, p=0.037, p<0.001 and p=0.037. CONCLUSION: Hearing-loss students showed more changes in static and dynamic balance comparing to normal hearing of same sex and age groups.

Static and dynamic balance of children and adolescents with sensorineural hearing loss / Equilíbrio estático e dinâmico de crianças e adolescentes com perda auditiva sensório-neural

ABSTRACT Objective To assess the static and dynamic balance performance of students with normal hearing and with sensorineural hearing loss. Methods A cross-sectional study assessing 96 students, 48 with normal hearing and 48 with sensorineural hearing loss of both sexes, aged 7 and 18 years. To evaluate static balance, Romberg, Romberg-Barré and Fournier tests were used; and for the dynamic balance, we applied the Unterberger test. Results Hearing loss students showed more changes in static and dynamic balance as compared to normal hearing, in all tests used (p<0.001). The same difference was found when subjects were grouped by sex. For females, Romberg, Romberg-Barré, Fournier and Unterberger test p values were, respectively, p=0.004, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.023; for males, the p values were p=0.009, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.002, respectively. The same difference was observed when students were classified by age. For 7 to 10 years old students, the p values for Romberg, Romberg-Barré and Fournier tests were, respectively, p=0.007, p<0.001 and p=0.001; for those aged 11 and 14 years, the p values for Romberg, Romberg-Barré, Fournier and Unterberger tests were p=0.002, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.015, respectively; and for those aged 15 and 18 years, the p values for Romberg-Barré, Fournier and Unterberger tests were, respectively, p=0.037, p<0.001 and p=0.037. Conclusion Hearing-loss students showed more changes in static and dynamic balance comparing to normal hearing of same sex and age groups.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar o desempenho do equilíbrio estático e dinâmico de escolares ouvintes e com perda auditiva sensório-neural. Métodos Estudo de corte transversal que avaliou 96 escolares, sendo 48 ouvintes e 48 com perda auditiva sensório-neural, de ambos os sexos, na faixa etária entre 7 e 18 anos. Para a avaliação do equilíbrio estático, foram utilizados os testes de Romberg, Romberg-Barré e Fournier, e, para avaliar o equilíbrio dinâmico, foi usado o teste de Unterberger. Resultados Os escolares com perda auditiva apresentaram maior ocorrência de alterações no equilíbrio estático e dinâmico, comparados aos ouvintes, em todos os testes empregados (p<0,001). O mesmo foi observado quando os escolares foram agrupados pelos sexos. Para o sexo feminino, os valores de p para os testes de Romberg, Romberg-Barré, Fournier e Unterberger foram, respectivamente, p=0,004, p<0,001, p<0,001 e p=0,023; para o sexo masculino, foram p=0,009, p<0,001, p<0,001 e p=0,002. A mesma diferença foi observada quando os escolares foram estratificados pelas faixas etárias. Para aqueles de 7 a 10 anos, os valores de p foram, respectivamente, para os testes de Romberg, Romberg-Barré e Fournier p=0,007, p<0,001 e p=0,001; entre 11 e 14 anos, para os testes de Romberg, Romberg-Barré, Fournier e Unterberger, foram, respectivamente p=0,002, p<0,001, p<0,001, p=0,015; entre 15 e 18 anos, para os testes Romberg-Barré, Fournier e Unterberger foram, respectivamente, p=0,037, p<0,001 e p=0,037. Conclusão Os escolares com perda auditiva apresentaram maior ocorrência de alterações no desempenho do equilíbrio estático e dinâmico que os ouvintes, do mesmo sexo e faixa etária.

Head Position Comparison between Students with Normal Hearing and Students with Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Introduction Head sense position is coordinated by sensory activity of the vestibular system, located in the inner ear. Children with sensorineural hearing loss may show changes in the vestibular system as a result of injury to the inner ear, which can alter the sense of head position in this population. Aim Analyze the head alignment in students with normal hearing and students with sensorineural hearing loss and compare the data between groups. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study examined the head alignment of 96 students, 48 with normal hearing and 48 with sensorineural hearing loss, aged between 7 and 18 years. The analysis of head alignment occurred through postural assessment performed according to the criteria proposed by Kendall et al. For data analysis we used the chi-square test or Fisher exact test. Results The students with hearing loss had a higher occurrence of changes in the alignment of the head than normally hearing students (p < 0.001). Forward head posture was the type of postural change observed most, occurring in greater proportion in children with hearing loss (p < 0.001), followed by the side slope head posture (p < 0.001). Conclusion Children with sensorineural hearing loss showed more changes in the head posture compared with children with normal hearing.

Head Position Comparison between Students with Normal Hearing and Students with Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Head sense position is coordinated by sensory activity of the vestibular system, located in the inner ear. Children with sensorineural hearing loss may show changes in the vestibular system as a result of injury to the inner ear, which can alter the sense of head position in this population. Aim: Analyze the head alignment in students with normal hearing and students with sensorineural hearing loss and compare the data between groups. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study examined the head alignment of 96 students, 48 with normal hearing and 48 with sensorineural hearing loss, aged between 7 and 18 years. The analysis of head alignment occurred through postural assessment performed according to the criteria proposed by Kendall et al. For data analysis we used the chi-square test or Fisher exact test. Results: The students with hearing loss had a higher occurrence of changes in the alignment of the head than normally hearing students (p < 0.001). Forward head posture was the type of postural change observed most, occurring in greater proportion in children with hearing loss (p < 0.001), followed by the side slope head posture (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Children with sensorineural hearing loss showed more changes in the head posture compared with children with normal hearing...