Assessment of balance skills and falling risk in children with congenital bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the balance skills and falling risk in children with a congenital bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss (CBPSNHL).

METHODS

25 children with CBPSNHL and healthy 25 children with similar age and gender were included in the study. The flamingo balance test, the tandem stance test, and the one-leg standing test were performed to assess the patients' static balance skills. The pediatric balance scale (PBS) was used to evaluate the dynamic balance. Visual analog scale (VAS) was applied to the patients assess the frequency of falls.

RESULTS

The flamingo balance test, the tandem stance test, and the one-leg standing test in the children with CBPSNHL were all significantly worse than the control group. Although the scores of PBS in patients with CBPSNHL were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.001), the results of both groups were consistent with a low risk of falls. There was no significant difference between the VAS scores indicating the frequency of falls among the groups (p = 0.552).

CONCLUSION

Static and dynamic balance skills of the children with CBPSNHL are significantly impaired compared to their healthy peers. Children with CBPSNHL also have a lower risk of falling just like their healthy peers and there is no significant difference between their falling frequencies. Balance skills of children with CBPSNHL can be assessed quickly and effectively on a hard floor (eyes closed), with a tandem standing test or a one-leg standing test.