The impacts of exercise training programs on balance in children with hearing loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction and purpose: According to the prevalence of balance disorders among children with hearing loss (HL), researchers used exercise programs to improve balance in children with HL. So, the present systematic review and meta-analysis briefly summarize findings regarding the impacts of exercise training programs on balance in children with HL.Methods: Science Direct, MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS, LILACS, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Web of Science, PEDro, and Google Scholar were searched from inception until November 11th, 2023. Two independent researchers analyzed and extracted the data from potential papers whose eligibility was confirmed. Then, the PEDro scale was used to obtain quality assessment scores. The total PEDro score is 11 and incorporates the presentation of statistical analysis and evaluation criteria of internal validity. Studies that scored 7-11 were considered methodologically "high", 5 to 6 were "fair", and <= 4 were considered "poor".Results: 10 studies involving a total of 304 participations were included in the systematic review. Our results demonstrate that exercise training programs positively impact static balance (p = 0.001) with level 1a evidence, the postural sway (p = 0.001) with level 1a evidence, and dynamic balance (p = 0.001) with level 1a evidence in children with HL.Conclusion: The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis related to studies with excellent methodological quality revealed that the intended training programs significantly impact postural sway along with static and dynamic balance in children with HL. It is recommended that future exercise training programs be paired with rehabilitation programs for children with HL.