Postural control during gait in hearing-impaired adults - a case-control study

Abstract

Background: There are indications that hearing-impaired individuals have postural control deficits during standing compared to normal hearing individuals due to concomitant vestibular dysfunction. Aim: The aim was to increase knowledge about the relationship between hearing impairment and postural control during walking. Material and method: Postural control was compared between 17 hearing-impaired (47% women, age 18 - 69 years, ̴71 % with vestibular dysfunction) and 14 normal hearing adults (71% women, age 22 - 61 years). Postural control was examined during walking in basic conditions, and with manipulation of the somatosensory and the visual system. Gait variability and velocity was measured. Results and conclusion: The hearing-impaired adults had generally reduced preferred gait speed and increased gait variability compared to controls indicating that people with severe hearing loss may have greater balance challenges during walking than normal hearing adults. As far as we know, this is the first study that examines gait variability and balance strategies during walking under different conditions in hearing-impaired adults.

Keywords

• hearing impairment
• vestibular function
• postural control
• gait speed
• gait variability