Survey of Asymmetry Index of Gait Ground Reaction Force Frequency Spectrum in Deaf and Hearing Male Children of Hamedan City in 2017

Gait asymmetry is a useful index that can provide an important role in clinical treatment. Since the link between asymmetry index of gait ground reaction force frequency content and hearing loss is not well evaluated, the aim of this study was to compare the asymmetry index of gait ground reaction force frequency spectrum in deaf and hearing male children of Hamedan city.
Material and In this descriptive study, 30 male children from Hamedan city in 2017 were selected and equally divided into a healthy group and a group with hearing loss problems (deaf group). Frequency content of ground reaction forces were analyzed during barefoot walking. Then, asymmetry indices were computed for essential number of harmonics, band width, median frequency, frequency with a power of 99.5%, and amplitudes of harmonics for three-dimensional groud reaction forces. Independent t-test was used for data analysis. Hearing loss was associated with increased asymmetry index of anterior-posterior median frequency (by 10%; p=0.011) and anterior-posterior frequency band width (by 6%; p=0.022). Similar asymmetry index of vertical and medio-lateral frequency content were found in both groups (p>0.05). The greatest asymmetry index value of ground reaction force frequency content in deaf children was in anterior-posterior direction. Also, the highest differences in asymmetry indices were in median frequemcy, band width, and harmonic amplitude during walking. In order to improve above mentioned asymmetry indices, using treatment interventions in deaf children are suggested