Visual Acuity in Adults With Congenital Deafness

Congenital deafness has a relationship with vestibular and motor functioning. However, many studies have focused on children rather than adults. This study compared the relationship of vestibular functioning and visual acuity between adult athletes who were deaf and their age-appropriate peers in order to understand differences in balance and vision. Specifically, balance capability, vestibular functioning, and visual acuity functioning were compared among 19 adults with deafness to 25 adults with normal hearing. A one-leg standing test with eyes open and with eyes closed was used to assess balance while visual function was evaluated using a dynamic visual acuity test. While the two groups shared similar results on the balance test with their eyes open, the adults with deafness performed better than their peers with their eyes closed. The results of vestibular evaluation indicated the adults with congenital deafness lost input of information through visual perception when they closed their eyes.