Document Type : Original Article

Author

• شیرین عالی

Assistance professor, Department of Sport Science Education, Farhangian University, P.O box: 14665-889, Tehran, Iran. email: sh.aali@cfu.ac.ir

Abstract

Background and Objective: Human balance requires the coordinated interaction of sensory and motor systems. Blind and deaf children, due to the lack of certain sensory inputs, may face challenges in maintaining balance and motor control. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the balance performance of blind, deaf, and typically developing children using the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS).

Materials and Methods: This descriptive–comparative study included purposive samples of blind, deaf, and typically developing children. Balance was assessed using the PBS, which consists of 14 items related to daily functional activities. Data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Bonferroni post hoc test.

Results: The mean balance scores were 55.14 for typically developing children, 54.63 for deaf children, and 48.25 for blind children. One-way ANOVA indicated significant differences among the groups (p < 0.001). Post hoc Bonferroni analysis revealed significant differences between blind and deaf children (-6.38, p < 0.001) and between blind and typically developing children (-6.89, p < 0.001), while no significant difference was observed between deaf and typically developing children (-0.51, p = 0.243). These results suggest that visual impairment has a greater negative impact on balance performance compared to hearing impairment.

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Conclusion: These findings indicate that visual impairment has a greater negative impact on balance performance compared to hearing impairment. Therefore, the results highlight the need for designing and implementing targeted educational and rehabilitation programs to improve balance and quality of life in children with visual impairments.

Keywords

• Balance
• Children
• Blind
• Deaf
• Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS)