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Motor skill deficits in children with partial hearing
Author(s) -
LIVINGSTONE NUALA,
MCPHILLIPS MARTIN
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.04001.x
Subject(s) - audiology , balance (ability) , vestibular system , confidence interval , movement assessment , motor skill , psychology , gross motor skill , hearing loss , medicine , physical therapy , developmental psychology
Aim We examined the effect of partial hearing, including cochlear implantation, on the development of motor skills in children (aged 6–12y). Method Three independent groups of children were selected: a partial hearing group ( n =25 [14 males, 11 females]; mean age 8y 8mo, SD 1y 10mo), a nonverbal IQ‐matched group ( n =27 [15 males, 12 females]; mean age 9y, SD 1y 6mo), and an age‐matched group ( n =26 [8 males, 18 females]; mean age 8y 8mo, SD 1y 7mo) from three schools with special units for children with partial hearing. All children with partial hearing had a bilateral hearing loss >60 decibels. Motor and balance skills were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) and two protocols from the NeuroCom Balance Master clinical procedures. Results The mean standardized total MABC score of the children with partial hearing (95% confidence interval [CI] 71.8–88.7) was significantly lower than both the age‐matched (95% CI 95.8–111.4; p <0.01) and the IQ‐matched (95% CI 87.6–103.0; p =0.03) comparison groups. The children with partial hearing had particular difficulties with balance, most notably during tests of intersensory demand. However, subgroup analyses revealed that the effect of cochlear implantation was clearly dependent on the nature of the task. Interpretation Children with partial hearing are at high risk of clinical levels of motor deficit, with balance difficulties providing support for conventional vestibular deficit theory. However, the effect of cochlear implantation suggests that other sensory systems may be involved. A broader ecological perspective, which takes into account factors external to the child, may prove a useful framework for future research.