The Comparison of the Ability of Balance Performance between Abnormal Persons with Blindness or Deafness and Normal Persons

정상인과 시각 및 청각장애인의 사이의 균형수행력 차이에 관한 연구

Purpose: This study examined whether or not the balance performing ability of the disabled (blindness and deafness) is lower than normal people. Chronometry was used to compare the balance maintaining ability of blind and deaf subjects with that of normal subjects under the same conditions. Methods: In this study, balance foam, eye bandage, earplugs and headphones were used. The balance foam used in this study is smooth with slight elasticity and a convex upper side, 60cm wide, 15cm long and 9cm high. The eye bandage was used to artificially block the sight of the normal subjects, and the earplugs and headphones to block their hearing. Results: The mean time of the normal subjects standing with their eyes open, blindfolded and wearing ear plugs was 26.7, 19.8 and 28.7sec, respectively. The mean standing maintaining time for the blind and deaf subjects was 12.5 sec and 24.1 sec, respectively. The t-test result of the calculated mean time showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between the normal subjects and the normal subjects with their hearing blocked but there was a significant difference between the normal subjects with their hearing blocked and the deaf subjects (p>0.05). Conclusion: There was significance between the normal subjects and the normal subjects with their eyes blocked but there was no significant difference between the normal subjects with their eyes blocked and the blind subjects. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the deaf and the normal subjects, which corresponds to the report showing that sight has a significant influence on balance.