The Benefits of Regular Physical Activity on Hearing in Visually Impaired Adolescents

Serap Yildirim 1, Ramazan Yuksel 2 * , Songul Doganay 1, Mustafa Gul 1, Fatih Bingol 3, Senol Dane 4
More Detail
1 Department of Physiology, Medical School, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
2 Department of Physiology, Medical School, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey
3 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey
4 Department of Physiology, Medical School, Turgut Ozal University Ankara, Turkey
* Corresponding Author
EUR J BASIC MED SCI, Volume 3, Issue 1, pp. 17-21. https://doi.org/10.21601/ejbms/9195
OPEN ACCESS
Download Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible beneficial effects of regular physical activity on auditory reaction time and the duration of hearing in congenital visually impaired adolescents by examining some auditory performances involving perception and motor components. Forty visually impaired and 30 sighted-control adolescents, 10 to 22 years old (14.04 ± 2.77) participated in the study. All 40 visually impaired adolescents, 13 were goalball players and 27 were sedentary. To measure the duration of hearing, an index of auditory acuity, a tuning fork of 256 Hz, and a digital chronometer were used. Auditory reaction time (msec.) was longer in visually impaired adolescents compared to sighted controls for both right and left-hands (right: t=3.95, p=0.00; left: t=3.66, p=0.00). The visually impaired adolescents had the increased reaction time and the decreased duration of hearing, or disadvantages for both auditory reaction time and duration of hearing. Auditory reaction speed and duration of hearing was decreased in sedentary visually impaired adolescents than in visually impaired goalball players. These results suggest that playing goalball designed for the blind is very beneficial to decrease their neuropsychological and developmental problems.
Keywords: visually impaired adolescents, regular physical activity, reaction time, duration of hearing

CITATION

Yildirim S, Yuksel R, Doganay S, Gul M, Bingol F, Dane S. The Benefits of Regular Physical Activity on Hearing in Visually Impaired Adolescents. Eur J Basic Med Sci. 2013;3(1):17-21. https://doi.org/10.21601/ejbms/9195

REFERENCES

  • Colak T, Bamac B, Aydin M, Meric B, Ozbek A. Physical fitness levels of blind and visually impaired goalball team players. Isokine Exerc Sci 2004; 12: 247-52.
  • Lieberman LJ, McHugh E. Health-related fitness of children who are visually impaired. J Visu Impa Blin 2001; 95: 272-87.
  • Skaggs S, Hopper C. Individuals with visual impairments: a review of psychomotor behavior. Adap Phys Acti Quart 1996; 13:16-26.
  • Hopkins WG, Gaeta H, Thomas AC, Hill PM. Physical fitness of blind and sighted children. Eur J App Phys Occup Phys 1987; 56: 69-73.
  • Sibley BA, Etnier JL. The relationship between physical activity and cognition in children: a meta-analysis. Ped Exer Sci 2003; 15: 243-56.
  • Akarsu S, Caliskan E, & Dane S. Athletes have faster eyehand visual reaction times and higher scores on visuospatial intelligence than nonathletes. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2009; 39(6): 871-4.
  • Hillman CH, Snook EM, Jerome G J. Acute cardiovascular exercise and executive control function. Int J Psyc 2003; 48:307-14.
  • Winter B, Breitenstein C, Mooren FC, et al. High impact running improves learning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2007; 87(4):597-609.
  • Van Praag H. Exercise and the brain: something to chew on. Trend Neur 2009; 32:283-90.
  • van Praag H. Neurogenesis and exercise: past and future directions. Neur Med 2008; 10: 28-140.
  • Stranahan AM, Khalil D, Gould E. Running induces widespread structural alterations in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. Hippo 2007; 17: 1017-22.
  • Chen CC, Lin SY. The impact of rope jumping exercise on physical fitness of visually impaired students. Res Dev Disab 2011; 32:25-9.
  • Caliskan E. The effects of long term goalball sport on reaction times in blind children by sex and handedness. Neur Psyc B Res 2010; 16: 97-100.
  • Karakaya IC, Aki E, Ergun N. Physical fitness of visually impaired adolescent goalball players. Perc M Skil 2009; 108:129-36.
  • Dane S, Bayirli M. Correlations between hand preference and durations of hearing for right and left ears in young healthy subjects. Perc M Ski 1998; 86: 667-72.
  • Yates JT, Johnson RM, Starz WJ. Loudness perception of the blind. Aud 1972; 11:368-76.
  • Starlinger I, Niemeyer W. Do the blind hear better? Investigations on auditory processing in congenital or early acquired blindness. I. Peripheral functions. Audiology 1981; 20: 503-9.
  • Weaver KE, Stevens AA. Auditory gap detection in the early blind. Hear Res 2006;211: 1-6.
  • Meahcham FR, Kline MM, Stovall JA. Adaptive behavior and low incidence handicaps: hearing and visual impairments. J Spec Edu 1987; 20:183-96.
  • Uysal SA, Erden Z, Akbayrak T. Comparison of balance and gait in visually or hearing impaired children. Perc M Ski 2010; 111: 71-80.
  • Navarro AS, Fukujima MM, Fontes SV, Matas SL, Prado GF. Balance and motor coordination are not fully developed in 7-year-old blind children. Arq Neu 2004; 62: 654-7.