Premium
Physical therapy management for balance deficits in children with hearing impairments: A systematic review
Author(s) -
Fernandes Romita,
Hariprasad Shalini,
Kumar Vijaya K
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12867
Subject(s) - medicine , psychological intervention , balance (ability) , audiology , vestibular system , rehabilitation , intervention (counseling) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , vestibular rehabilitation , population , hearing loss , physical therapy , psychiatry , environmental health
Childhood hearing impairment is a significant problem, associated with long‐term academic, communicative and physical impairments. Studies have shown that children with hearing loss also present with balance and/or vestibular deficits along with complain of frequent falls. Various interventions have been studied to improvise postural control and balance in these children on different outcome measures. This review will provide the existing evidence on interventions to improve vestibular and/or balance functions. Three trials met our study criteria with PEDro score ≥6, and data were extracted, entered by two independent review authors. Though there was variability with regard to the focus and intensity of the intervention, subject characteristics and in outcome measures, vestibular rehabilitation has a positive influence on functional independence. Heterogeneity in the studies limits the comparisons of intervention programmes. We conclude that there was considerable evidence for a positive effect on balance outcomes among the hearing‐impaired population with vestibular deficits. Further investigations of high‐quality studies are needed to determine to compare interventions for improving vestibular deficits in hearing‐impaired children.