The Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Exercises on Balance and Orientation of Students with Visual Impairment

Abstract

The present study investigates the effectiveness of sensory integration exercises on balance and orientation of students with visual impairment. This study is a semi-open study with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population includes all blind students in special schools in Abadan and Khorramshahr in the academic year 2019–2020. Among the special schools, 30 students with visual impairment were selected through an available sample and randomly divided into an experimental group (n =15, 7 girls and 8 boys) and a control group (n =15). Measurement and data collection methods include Lincoln-Ozertsky motor growth test (OMDT), basketball and dribble throw test (BDTT), and Ayers sensory integration exercises (AESI). After determining validity and addressing weaknesses, the test was administered to the experimental groups. The experimental group then performed exercises for 12 sessions of 90 minutes each. SPSS 21 software, Kolmogorov-Smirnov -test, Leven’s test and analysis of covariance were used to analyze the data. The results showed that sensory integration exercises had a positive significant effect on the balance and orientation of students with visual impairment at the level (P <0/01). Sensory-motor integration exercises in this study can improve the orientation and balance of students with visual impairment.

Keywords

• sensory integration exercises
• balance
• orientation
• students with visual impairment