Motor Skills Analysis in Adolescents with Hearing Loss Due to Congenital Rubella Syndrome

  • Ana Lúcia de Sá Yamazaki Centro Universitário de Maringá – CESUMAR
  • Fabricia Michelli Volpato Centro Universitário de Maringá – CESUMAR
Keywords: Deafness, Coordination, Balance.

Abstract

Rubella, while in the first trimester of pregnancy, causes the congenital rubella syndrome. This syndrome can cause birth defects such as deafness, blindness, cardiac anomalies, which are considered the classic triad. Mental retardation, neurological problems, behavioral changes and autism may also be associated with this syndrome. The objective was to identify the prevalence of changes in motor skills in adolescents with deafness due to this syndrome. Fifteen (15) adolescents with congenital hearing loss due to rubella developed in the first gestational trimester, of both sexes, with an average age of 16.3, participated in this research. In the physical therapy evaluation, the muscle tone, the actual and apparent measurement of the lower limb, motor coordination and the overall static and dynamic balance were considered. All procedures were followed by a Brazilian Sign Language interpreter for communication between the assessor and the participant. As a result: the type of congenital deafness was profound bilateral sensorineural (100% of the evaluated individuals); regarding muscle tone, only 7% showed muscular hypertonia, being in the right hemisphere. The discrepancy of the lower limbs was not relevant because it ranged from 0.50 to 1.0 cm when present. Concerning motor skills, 93% of participants had overall motor coordination, static and dynamic balance within the normal range and 7% presented alterations. It was concluded that the profound bilateral sensorineural deafness was not a limiting factor for the acquisition of motor skills and there was no predominance of motor sequelae resulting from the congenital rubella syndrome.

Author Biographies

Ana Lúcia de Sá Yamazaki, Centro Universitário de Maringá – CESUMAR
Docente Mestre do Departamento de Fisioterapia do Centro Universitário de Maringá – CESUMAR. E-mail: analu@cesumar.br
Fabricia Michelli Volpato, Centro Universitário de Maringá – CESUMAR
Fisioterapeuta graduada pelo Centro Universitário de Maringá – CESUMAR. E-mail: mivolpato@yahoo.com.br
Published
2010-02-22
Section
Artigos Originais