Department of Physical Therapy, Laboratory of Pediatric Studies (LEPed), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
Phys Ther. 2021 Oct 1;101(10). doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzab177.
The purpose of this study was to assess the static balance of children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) according to the degrees of SNHL and the function of the vestibular system.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in public schools located in Caruaru, Pernambuco state, Brazil, with 130 children (65 with normal hearing and 65 with SNHL as documented by air and bone conduction audiometry) of both sexes between 7 and 11 years old. Static balance was assessed by a stabilometric analysis using a force platform consisting of the circular area of center-of-pressure displacement of the children evaluated in 3 positions: bipedal support with feet together and parallel (PF), tandem feet (TF), and 1 foot (OF), carried out under 2 sensory conditions each, with eyes open and eyes closed. After balance assessments, the children with SNHL received examinations of auditory and vestibular functions-through audiometry and computerized vectoelectronystagmography, respectively-to compose the groups according to degrees of SNHL and vestibular function.
The children with severe and profound SNHL demonstrated more static balance instabilities than the children with normal hearing in 5 positions assessed with eyes open (PF, TF, and OF) and eyes closed (PF and TF). The same phenomenon occurred in children with SNHL and associated vestibular dysfunction in all of the positions assessed with eyes open and eyes closed (PF, TF, and OF).
The larger the degree of SNHL, the greater the balance instability of the children. The children with SNHL and associated vestibular dysfunction showed the highest balance instabilities in this study.
Children with larger degrees of SNHL and associated vestibular dysfunction might require prolonged periods to rehabilitate their balance.
本研究旨在根据感音神经性听力损失（SNHL）的程度和前庭系统的功能来评估患有 SNHL 儿童的静态平衡。
本横断面研究在巴西伯南布哥州卡鲁阿鲁的公立学校进行，共纳入 130 名儿童（65 名听力正常，65 名经空气和骨导听力测试证实有 SNHL），年龄 7 至 11 岁，男女不限。使用力台进行静态平衡评估，力台由儿童的压力中心位移的圆形区域组成，评估儿童在 3 种姿势下的平衡：双脚并拢平行支撑（PF）、双脚前后支撑（TF）和单脚支撑（OF），每种姿势在睁眼和闭眼两种感觉条件下各进行 1 次。平衡评估后，SNHL 患儿接受听觉和前庭功能检查（分别通过听力测试和计算机化视动眼动图检查），并根据 SNHL 程度和前庭功能分组。
与听力正常的儿童相比，重度和极重度 SNHL 儿童在睁眼时（PF、TF 和 OF）和闭眼时（PF 和 TF）的 5 个位置的静态平衡更不稳定。在所有睁眼和闭眼位置（PF、TF 和 OF）评估中，SNHL 伴前庭功能障碍的儿童也出现了同样的现象。
SNHL 程度越大，儿童的平衡稳定性越差。在本研究中，SNHL 伴前庭功能障碍的儿童表现出最高的平衡不稳定性。
SNHL 程度较大且伴前庭功能障碍的儿童可能需要更长的时间来恢复平衡。
