comparison of static and dynamic balance among blind, deaf and normal primary school aged children in the state of Bahrain

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to compare the performance level of static and. dynamic balance among blind, deaf and non-handicapped boys and girls, aged 6-12. in the state of Bahrain. Balance was measured by the Bruminks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Prqfvaeno [subtest 2 balance] to investigate the differences between the three groups in balance performance [dynamic and static]. A total of 54 male and female students were randomly selected to serve as subjects. There were three groups 18 blind students from Al-Noor Institute for the Blind 18 deaf students from the Rehabilitation Center, Isa Town, who had a hearing loss of not less than 70 decibels and met the specific education criteria for placement as deaf children and 18 nan-handicapped students fom Isa Town Primary School. Sex was represented equally in all three groups. The test items were administered to the subjects in the mannewr suggested in the manner suggested manual. The total communication system was utilized with the deaf students whereas the technique qf being pui through the movement by an assistant was used with the blind students, in order to ensure that the students understood the test directions. A two by three analysis of variance fixed model was used as the appropriate statistical tool to test the null hypothesis, with an alpha level of 0.05, power level of 0.80 and effect size of 0.25. The results of this study indicated that 1] There was a significant difference between the male and female total balance mean scores [dynamic and static]. Female mean scores were greater than the male mean scores/or the three groups of the study. 2] There was a significant difference among the non-handicapped, blind and deaf children for total balance. The mean scores for the non-handicapped were greater than the mean scores for the deaf, and the mean scores for the deaf were greater than the mean scrores for the blind. 3] No significant difference was found between the normal children's mean scores and the deaf children's mean scores in the dynamic balance. 4] There was no significant interaction between sex of subjects and the group categories used in this study. The conclusion was reached that the deaf and blind children are inferior to non-handicapped children in total balance performance and the deaf children are not inferior to the non-handicapped children in the dynamic balance