Assessing the influence of sensory interaction and vestibular compensation on postural control in young females with sensorineural hearing loss

Hearing impairment is a common sensory deficit in humans. Sensorineural hearing loss [SNHL] may be associated with involvement of vestibular system, especially due to near location of anatomical structures in the inner ear, The aim of the study was to investigate the postural control under altered sensory conditions in young females with SNHL to assess their effect and in predicting a possibility of vestibular insufficiency. The study was conducted on 20 deaf females [age range wasl8:24 years] with bilateral permanent SNHL compared to 25 normal hearing matched females. Modified Clinical Tests of Sensory Interaction on Balance were done for both groups under sensory altered conditions by using The Computerized Smart Balance Master System. The results revealed a statistical significant increase in the postural sway velocities precluding the maintenance of the upright stance with removal of visual stimuli and modification of somatosensory input in SNHL females in comparison to normal-hearing subjects. The study suggests that young females with SNHL are at risk of peripheral vestibular loss as they primarily use visual and somatosensory information to maintain their postural control. The findings allow us to confirm that the postural control tests should be done for subjects with SNHL for detecting and rehabilitating vestibular dysfunction

Preferred means of communication among the deaf

To describe the methods of communication preferred among hearing impaired students and their usage of hearing aids, the benefits of using hearing aids, their impact on verbal communication and other problems affecting academic skills. Al-Amal Institutions for Deaf, the Arab Open University, the Culture Center for the Deaf and the Sport Center for the Deaf in Riyadh. Questionnaire study. Two hundred and sixty volunteers participated in the study, 50% were boys and 50% were girls, their average age ranged from 12 to 24 years. The hearing loss of those students varies from moderate to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss [SNHL]. The majority of the respondents indicated that they prefer to use total communication 138 [53%]; while only 67 [25.8%] used sign language with some oral communication, and 55 [21%] prefer sign language besides oral communication. Use of hearing aids within the female student population is higher among young girls than it is among older girls. In this study, we found that the majority of deaf individuals prefer the total communication method, while 67 prefer sign language alone and 55 prefer sign language besides oral communication. Only 174 [66.9%] of the participants reported using hearing aids

Effects of the mobile phones on the hearing function of the users

There is a public concern of the health effects of the extensive use of mobile phone. Many studies were conducted producing controversial results. Very few studies were performed in the Middle East. To study the effects of the mobile phone on the hearing function of the users. Forty-eight Students aged 18-23 years old were divided into three groups. They were investigated from September 2005 till October 2007. Group one 16 girls who have used mobile phones frequently and spoken approximately 3-4 hours per day for two years. Group two 16 girls who have used mobile phones for 1-2 hours per day for two years. Group three 16 girls who have never used mobile phones [control group]. Medical history was obtained and pure tone was performed. Examination showed that four students from group one had reported ear pain, headache, tinnitus, weddings noise, and party noise in the used ear and only one from group two suffered from tinnitus and headache. While two from group three suffered from tinnitus. Our findings, conducted on small number of individuals for limited period, showed that high degree of limited hearing loss might be associated with long-term use of the mobile phones. However, the possibility remains that there could be other health effects and that we need to conduct further study on larger number of individuals and for a longer period