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J Am Acad Audiol 2021; 32(08): 510-520
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731732
Research Article

Deaf Individuals Who Report Having Good Balance Function Present with Significant Vestibular Deficits

Chizuko Tamaki
1   Department of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences, Gallaudet University, Washington, District of Columbia
,
Kristen Maul
1   Department of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences, Gallaudet University, Washington, District of Columbia
,
Daniel S. Talian
1   Department of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences, Gallaudet University, Washington, District of Columbia
,
Sarah Sparks
1   Department of Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences, Gallaudet University, Washington, District of Columbia
› Author Affiliations Funding This project was funded by Gallaudet University's Priority Research Fund grant.
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Abstract

Background Vestibular and/or balance deficits are well documented in deaf individuals. In the adult population, poor vestibular and/or balance function can lead to activity limitations and increased risk of falling. An effective case history by health care providers to probe for potential balance concerns is necessary for appropriate referral; however, patients may not consistently report vestibular and balance symptoms. Currently, there is little information available as to how deaf individuals report these symptoms and how their reported balance ability relates to measures of balance and vestibular functions.

Purpose The aim of the current study was to evaluate self-perceived balance ability in participants who self-identify as either deaf or hearing, and compare these results to measures of balance and vestibular functions.

Research Design This is a prospective, between-group design.

Study Sample Data from 57 adults between the ages of 18 to 29 years who self-reported as deaf (39) or hearing (18) were evaluated. Participants completed the activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale, a brief case history, self-report rating of balance (SRRB), the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration of Balance (mCTSIB), along with both ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs) and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs). Only participants with SRRBs of good or excellent were included in the inferential analyses.

Results Proportions of participants rating their balance ability as either good or excellent were similar between both groups, as were the results on the ABC scale. Statistical analyses revealed significant associations between the groups on both oVEMPs and cVEMPs. No significant differences were observed on sway velocities in any of the mCTSIB conditions; however, more than one-third of deaf participants had mCTSIB Condition 4—on foam, eyes closed—scores above 2 standard deviations of the hearing group.

Conclusion Deaf participants self-report similar ratings of balance ability as hearing participants despite significant differences in vestibular function. A relatively large subset of deaf participants had increased sway velocity on balance function testing that required increased reliance on vestibular cues. A thorough discussion of balance and vestibular symptoms should be completed when a patient who self-identifies as deaf is seen by a health care provider so that appropriate screenings or referrals can be completed as necessary.

Keywords

dizziness - hearing loss - vestibular - self-report - balance

Prior Presentations

Portions of the data from this manuscript were presented as a poster presentation at the American Balance Society Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ, February 26–27, 2019.




Publication History

Received: 17 September 2020

Accepted: 20 May 2021

Article published online:
29 December 2021

© 2021. American Academy of Audiology. This article is published by Thieme.

Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

 

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