Integration of Hearing and Balance Screenings for Preschool Children Aged 4-6 Years in Tehran, Iran
,
Abstract
Background and Aim: Hearing impairment is the third leading cause of years lived with disability, particularly affecting children through language and speech delays, cognitive issues, and vestibular dysfunction. This study aimed to conduct both hearing and balance screenings for preschool children aged 4-6 years in Tehran, Iran.
Methods: In this study, 384 children (180 boys and 204 girls) from the east of Tehran city during spring 2023 participated. After taking the children’s history and calculating their Body Mass Index (BMI), hearing screening were performed at screening, diagnostic, and intervention levels. Balance function was screened using the balance subtest of the short form of Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency- second version (BOT-2).
Results: Among 768 ears examined, the prevalence of hearing loss (HL) was 11.2%, ranging from slight to moderate HL. Conductive HL had the highest prevalence (9.1%), followed by sensori-neural HL (1.3%) and mixed HL (0.8%). Of these, only 3% sought intervention. The mean total balance scores for age groups of 4, 5, and 6 years were 22.05±3.40, 26.02±3.72, and 28.13±4.50, respectively. Boys, children with higher BMIs, those with HL, and those with lower physical activity had significantly lower balance scores (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Given the type and degree of HL in preschool children and its relationship with balance scores, routine universal hearing and balance screenings for preschool children is recommended. Additionally, it is recommended to increase awareness among parents, child instructors, and pediatric healthcare providers in Iran regarding the importance of hearing and balance screenings for preschool children.
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26. Melo RS, Lemos A, Raposo MCF, Monteiro MG, Lambertz D, Ferraz KM. Repercussions of the Degrees of Hearing Loss and Vestibular Dysfunction on the Static Balance of Children With Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Phys Ther. 2021;101(10):pzab177. [DOI:10.1093/ptj/pzab177]
27. Daneshmandi H, Rezazadeh F, Aali S, Khodadad B. [The Relationship between Posture and Physical Fitness in Blind, Deaf and Normal Children]. Med J Tabriz Uni Med Sciences. 2016;38(2):28-35. Persian.
28. Gazbare P, Deshmukh S, Palekar TJ, Varghese N , Abraham B, Singh G, et al. Assessment of Body Coordination, Strength and Agility Using Bruininks- Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2) in Overweight and Obese Children Aged 7-12 Years. Indian J Physiother Occup Ther. 2020;14(1):185. [DOI:10.5958/0973-5674.2020.00033.7]
29. Awad AS, Aneis YM. Correlation between body mass index and motor proficiency in Egyptian children: a cross-sectional study. Bull Fac Phys Ther. 2022;27:26. [DOI:10.1186/s43161-022-00087-7]
30. Mülazimoğlu Balli Ő. Motor proficiency and body mass index of preschool children: in relation to socioeconomic status. J Educ Train Stud. 2016;4:237-43.
31. Gauchard GC, Jeandel C, Perrin PP. Physical and sporting activities improve vestibular afferent usage and balance in elderly human subjects. Gerontology. 2001;47(5):263-70. [DOI:10.1159/000052810]
32. Patti A, Fischetti F, Sahin FN, Bianco A. Editorial: Postural control, exercise physiology and the balance training-type of exercises, mechanisms and insights, volume II. Front Physiol. 2024;15:1428692. [DOI:10.3389/fphys.2024.1428692]
33. Katanic B, Aleksic Veljkovic A, Radakovic R, Stojiljkovic N, Olanescu M, Peris M, et al. How Does a 12-Week Physical Exercise Program Affect the Motor Proficiency and Cognitive Abilities of Overweight and Normal-Weight Preschool Children? Children (Basel). 2024;11(4):479. [DOI:10.3390/children11040479]
2. Stenfeldt K. Preschool hearing screening in Sweden. An evaluation of current practices and a presentation of new national guidelines. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018;110:70-5. [DOI:10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.04.013]
3. Wilson BS, Tucci DL, Merson MH, O’Donoghue GM. Global hearing health care: new findings and perspectives. Lancet. 2017;390(10111):2503-15. [DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31073-5]
4. Ashrafi M, Mohammadzadeh A. [Prevalence of auditory disorders in 3 to 6-year-old children in Tehran, Iran]. J Mazand Univ Med Sci. 2013;22(2):207-11. Persian.
5. Ahmad pour A. [Effects of a selected rhythmic exercise program on the balance control in hearing-impaired children with vestibular dysfunction]. Motor Behavior. 2015;7(21):47-64. Persian.
6. Dhondt C, Dhooge I, Maes L. Vestibular assessment in the pediatric population. Laryngoscope. 2019;129(2):490-3. [DOI:10.1002/lary.27255]
7. Radanović D, Đorđević D, Stanković M, Pekas D, Bogataj Š, Trajkovic N. Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition (BOT-2) Short Form: A Systematic Review of Studies Conducted in Healthy Children. Children (Basel). 2021;8(9):787. [DOI:10.3390/children8090787]
8. Yoon D, Choi D, Kim M, Ji S, Joung YS, Kim EY. Validity of the BOT-2 Short Form for Korean School-Age Children: A Preliminary Study. Children (Basel). 2024;11(6):724. [DOI:10.3390/children11060724]
9. Gharaei E, Shojaei M, Daneshfar A. [Sensitivity and Specificity of the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Second Edition-Short Form in Preschool Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder]. J Res Rehabil Sci. 2017;13(1):22-7. Persian. [DOI:10.22122/JRRS.V13I1.2847]
10. Rehagen SK, Valente M, Lieu JEC. Vestibular Screening in Pediatric Patients with Otitis Media. J Am Acad Audiol. 2020;31(3):209-16. [DOI:10.3766/jaaa.18101]
11. Janky KL, Thomas M, Patterson J, Givens D. Using Functional Outcomes to Predict Vestibular Loss in Children. Otol Neurotol. 2022;43(3):352-8. [DOI:10.1097/MAO.0000000000003433]
12. Jebeile H, Kelly AS, O’Malley G, Baur LA. Obesity in children and adolescents: epidemiology, causes, assessment, and management. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2022;10(5):351-65. [DOI:10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00047-X]
13. Gelfand SA, Calandruccio L. Essentials of Audiology. 5th ed. New York: Thieme; 2023.
14. Ebrahimi AA, Movallali G, Jamshidi AA, Haghgoo HA, Rahgozar M. Balance Performance of Deaf Children With and Without Cochlear Implants. Acta Med Iran. 2016;54(11):737-42.
15. Baradaranfar M, Mollasadeghi A, Jafari Z. [Prevalence of Hearing disorders in 3-6 year old Children of Kindergartens in Yazd City]. J Shahid Sadoughi Uni Med Sci. 2009;16(5):20-5. Persian.
16. Heidari A, Rashedi V, Rezaei M. [Prevalence of hearing disorders in 3-6 years old kindergartens in the city of Hamedan]. J Res Rehabil Sci. 2012;8(6):1087-94. Persian.
17. Kam AC, Li LK, Yeung KN, Wu W, Huang Z, Wu H, et al. Automated hearing screening for preschool children. J Med Screen. 2014;21(2):71-5. [DOI:10.1177/0969141314528322]
18. Hong KH, Kim DY, Kang HB, Park TY, Yun EJ, Lee JY, et al. A Preliminary Study on Motor Ability of Preschool Aged Children by Using Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2) Short Form. The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration. 2016;14(1):31-40. [DOI:10.18064/JKASI.2016.14.1.031]
19. Janky K, Shepard NT. Pediatric vestibular testing. In: Jacobson GP, Shepard NT, Barin K, Burkard RF, Janky K, McCaslin DL, editors. Balance Function Assessment and Management, Third Edition. 3rd ed. San Diego, CA: Plural Publishing; 2020. p. 457-77.
20. Gómez-Pérez E, Ostrosky-Solís F. Attention and memory evaluation across the life span: heterogeneous effects of age and education. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2006;28(4):477-94. [DOI:10.1080/13803390590949296]
21. Gaul D. Fine motor skill performance in Irish children. [Doctoral dissertation]. Dublin: Dublin City University; 2014.
22. Naglieri JA, Rojahn J. Gender differences in planning, attention, simultaneous, and successive (PASS) cognitive processes and achievement. J Educ Psychol. 2001;93(2):430-7. [DOI:10.1037/0022-0663.93.2.430]
23. Alavi M, Seng JH, Mustaffa MS, Ninggal MT, Amini M, Latif AA. Attention, Impulsiveness, and Gender in Academic Achievement Among Typically Developing Children. Percept Mot Skills. 2019;126(1):5-24. [DOI:10.1177/0031512518809163]
24. Carpenter MG, Campos JL. The Effects of Hearing Loss on Balance: A Critical Review. Ear Hear. 2020;41 Suppl 1:107S-19S. [DOI:10.1097/AUD.0000000000000929]
25. Zarei H, Norasteh AA, Lieberman LJ, Ertel MW, Brian A. Balance Control in Individuals with Hearing Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Audiol Neurootol. 2024;29(1):30-48. [DOI:10.1159/000531428]
26. Melo RS, Lemos A, Raposo MCF, Monteiro MG, Lambertz D, Ferraz KM. Repercussions of the Degrees of Hearing Loss and Vestibular Dysfunction on the Static Balance of Children With Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Phys Ther. 2021;101(10):pzab177. [DOI:10.1093/ptj/pzab177]
27. Daneshmandi H, Rezazadeh F, Aali S, Khodadad B. [The Relationship between Posture and Physical Fitness in Blind, Deaf and Normal Children]. Med J Tabriz Uni Med Sciences. 2016;38(2):28-35. Persian.
28. Gazbare P, Deshmukh S, Palekar TJ, Varghese N , Abraham B, Singh G, et al. Assessment of Body Coordination, Strength and Agility Using Bruininks- Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2) in Overweight and Obese Children Aged 7-12 Years. Indian J Physiother Occup Ther. 2020;14(1):185. [DOI:10.5958/0973-5674.2020.00033.7]
29. Awad AS, Aneis YM. Correlation between body mass index and motor proficiency in Egyptian children: a cross-sectional study. Bull Fac Phys Ther. 2022;27:26. [DOI:10.1186/s43161-022-00087-7]
30. Mülazimoğlu Balli Ő. Motor proficiency and body mass index of preschool children: in relation to socioeconomic status. J Educ Train Stud. 2016;4:237-43.
31. Gauchard GC, Jeandel C, Perrin PP. Physical and sporting activities improve vestibular afferent usage and balance in elderly human subjects. Gerontology. 2001;47(5):263-70. [DOI:10.1159/000052810]
32. Patti A, Fischetti F, Sahin FN, Bianco A. Editorial: Postural control, exercise physiology and the balance training-type of exercises, mechanisms and insights, volume II. Front Physiol. 2024;15:1428692. [DOI:10.3389/fphys.2024.1428692]
33. Katanic B, Aleksic Veljkovic A, Radakovic R, Stojiljkovic N, Olanescu M, Peris M, et al. How Does a 12-Week Physical Exercise Program Affect the Motor Proficiency and Cognitive Abilities of Overweight and Normal-Weight Preschool Children? Children (Basel). 2024;11(4):479. [DOI:10.3390/children11040479]
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 34 No 4 (2025) | |
| Section | Research Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/avr.v34i4.19958 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Hearing balance preschool screening bruininks-oseretsky motor skills | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Mousavisadr SF, Heidari F, Ebrahimi A-A. Integration of Hearing and Balance Screenings for Preschool Children Aged 4-6 Years in Tehran, Iran. Aud Vestib Res. 2025;34(4):365-372.
