BALANCE PARAMETERS IN CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Abstract

Many scientific studies have found lower performance on standard fitness tests of strength, endurance, flexibility and motor coordination, in persons with intellectual disabilities and developmental speech and language disorders. There are limited body of research on motor performance in children with borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) that manifesting as cognitive and behavioural problems and specific language impairment (SLI) that is a developmental disorder involving delayed language. The balance is one of the substantial motor skills that ensure development of normal movement patterns. The aim of the research is to find the differences of vestibular system indicators in specific groups. The data are gained during the research that was supported by National Research Program "Innovative solutions in social rehabilitation in Latvian schools in the context of inclusive education". The balance sway index (SI) was tested by digital platform BioSway using the m-CTSIB test in four positions. The research group included 17 participants with SLI and 25 children with BIF diagnosis at the 11-14 years age range who are enrolled in special schools. The normative data of m-CTSIB test was gained from 305 participants in previous researches of National Program. It was found statistically significant differences (p=0.027) of SI between BIF and SLI groups in one test position (eyes closed on foam surface). Children with disorders demonstrated significantly lower balance performance in two test positions in each group. Participants with BIF had significantly higher SI than typical children in two test positions with eyes open. Respectively on firm surface (p=0.028) and on foam surface (p=0.012). Children with SLI had significantly higher SI accordingly in two test positions on firm surface respectively eyes open (p=0.001) and eyes closed (p=0.000). The findings suggest that mechanism of vestibular adaptation in challenging environments differ with disorder diagnosis. That indicates the need for further researches in these specific groups.