Open Access
Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2013; 17(04): 363-369
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1351685
Original Article
Thieme Publicações Ltda Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Head Position Comparison between Students with Normal Hearing and Students with Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Renato de Souza Melo
1   Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife/PE, Brasil
,
Polyanna Waleska Amorim da Silva
2   Faculdade Integrada do Recife (FIR), Recife/PE, Brasil
,
Robson Arruda Souza
3   Associação Caruaruense de Ensino Superior (ASCES), Caruaru/PE, Brasil
,
Maria Cristina Falcão Raposo
4   Department of Statistics, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife/PE, Brasil
,
Karla Mônica Ferraz
5   Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife/PE, Brasil
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Publikationsverlauf

03. März 2013

19. Mai 2013

Publikationsdatum:
13. September 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction Head sense position is coordinated by sensory activity of the vestibular system, located in the inner ear. Children with sensorineural hearing loss may show changes in the vestibular system as a result of injury to the inner ear, which can alter the sense of head position in this population.

Aim Analyze the head alignment in students with normal hearing and students with sensorineural hearing loss and compare the data between groups.

Methods This prospective cross-sectional study examined the head alignment of 96 students, 48 with normal hearing and 48 with sensorineural hearing loss, aged between 7 and 18 years. The analysis of head alignment occurred through postural assessment performed according to the criteria proposed by Kendall et al. For data analysis we used the chi-square test or Fisher exact test.

Results The students with hearing loss had a higher occurrence of changes in the alignment of the head than normally hearing students (p < 0.001). Forward head posture was the type of postural change observed most, occurring in greater proportion in children with hearing loss (p < 0.001), followed by the side slope head posture (p < 0.001).

Conclusion Children with sensorineural hearing loss showed more changes in the head posture compared with children with normal hearing.