Predicting the Physical Fitness Level Among Students with Hearing Impairment

Abstract

Physical fitness is defined as his or her ability to perform in physical activities without fatigue. Children with disabilities including with hearing impairment indicate lower physical fitness than their hearing peers and place them at risk for non-communicable diseases (NCD). Deafness or hearing impairment is referred as sensory disability with hearing loss exceeding than 55 dB. Almost children indicated hearing impairment have demonstrated lower physical fitness levels than their hearing peers. The objective of the study is to compare between physical fitness levels and gender among students with hearing impairment. The demographic data consist of age group, gender, health status concerning the diseases, and physical fitness of health-related and skill-related fitness using the convenient sampling. The total of hearing impairment students from a primary and a secondary school is n = 170 (males 122, females 48). Demographic data were collected by questionnaire. Physical fitness test batteries carried out 10-m shuttle run, standing vertical jump, sit-ups, handgrip strength, sit-and-reach test, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Significant differences were found in body composition, sit-and-reach vertical jump, and handgrip strength between age--gender groups. In evaluation of health-related fitness, males are better in primary school compared to females in the same age. However, females performed better than males in fitness variable of flexibility, abdominal strength, and endurance in secondary school. In cardiovascular endurance, females achieve higher result than males. Meanwhile, skill-related fitness in agility, females are significantly better than males in both schools, while in muscle leg power and handgrip strength, the findings illustrate that males were significantly greater than females in both age groups. The findings in terms of physical fitness revealed variations in body composition, flexibility, cardiovascular function, and muscle power between the two groups. The findings of this study may enhance the identification of fitness level of hearing impairment children which may improve health outcomes in children.