Abstract

AZEVEDO, Marcello Gonçalves de  and  SAMELLI, Alessandra Giannella. Comparative study of balance on deaf and hearing children. Rev. CEFAC [online]. 2009, vol.11, suppl.1, pp. 0-0.  Epub Mar 13, 2009. ISSN 1982-0216.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-18462009005000014.

PURPOSE: to compare the static, dynamic and recovered balance of deaf and hearing children. METHODS: nine deaf children and eighteen hearing children were evaluated (age nine to twelve, both sexes). To evaluate the static, dynamic and recovered balance, we used the "four" test, Romberg test, the "spend on the bridge" test, Unterberger test and 180º test, respectively. RESULTS: in all tests, most of hearing children showed steady balance and most of deaf children showed unstable recovered balance. CONCLUSION: the analysis of results led to a conclusion that hearing children have best performance than deaf children, regarding static, dynamic and recovered balance.

Keywords : Deafness; Vestibule; Ear, Inner.