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

Abstract EN

Background / aim : hearing impairment is a common sensory deficit in humans.

Sensor neural 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.

Materials and Methods : 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.

Results : 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.

Conclusion : 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.