Evidence of progressive delay of motor development in children with sensorineural hearing loss and concurrent vestibular dysfunction.
Gross motor development, and the effect of age, sex and vestibular function on it, was examined in 39 24- to 83-mo.-old children with sensorineural hearing impairment. Repeated testing was completed on 18 children. Delayed gross motor development was evident regardless of age, but only children less than 5 years of age had developmental balance deficits on initial testing. Both gross motor and balance development scores were lower on repeated testing. Furthermore, vestibular function scores facilitated identification of those children with a deficit in balance development as well as those with a progressive delay in motor or balance development. Implications for practice are discussed.
Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Miami School of Medicine, Coral Gables, USA. rmrine@miami.edu
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Rine
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Cornwall
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Gan
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LoCascio
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O'Hare
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Robinson
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Rice
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004856:Postural Balance; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data