The reliability and validity of the balance tests in hearing-impaired athletes

Background: It is known that balance is affected in hearing-impaired athletes and its effects on performance. However, studies on the reliability and validity of scales evaluating balance are insufficient.

Aim: To analyze and demonstrate the effectiveness of various clinical tests using assessment balance for hearing-impaired athletes.

Method: The study included 60 elite athletes (aged between 18 and 25) with (n = 30) and without (n = 30) hearing impairment. The static balance was evaluated with the Flamingo Test (FT) and the dynamic balance with the Functional Reach Test (FRT), Four-Step Square Test (FSST), Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), and Y Balance Test (YBT). All balance tests were repeated at 1-week intervals. Test-retest reliability, known-group validity, and predictive validity of the scales were investigated.

Result: All balancing tests demonstrated strong test-retest reliability. FT and FSST had known-group and predictive validity. While FRT and the components of both YBT and SEBT involving anterior reaching were not valid tests for hearing-impaired individuals, YBT and SEBT had validity considering the composite score and other components.

Conclusion: It was revealed that the balance of hearing-impaired athletes was comparable to the balance of healthy athletes in test conditions in which visual information could be used effectively. For this reason, it is important to consider the visual information factor when evaluating the balance of hearing-impaired athletes. Additionally, taking into account time and tiredness, FT for static balance and FSST for dynamic balance may be helpful to evaluate hearing-impaired athletes.