Comparative Study of Motor Performance of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in Reaction Time, Visual-Motor Control and Upper Limb Speed and Dexterity Abilities

Using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test the motor performance of 34 deaf--hard-of-hearing pupils, 6-14 year, was evaluated in reaction time, visual-motor control and upper limb speed and dexterity. The two-way ANOVA variance analysis for two independent variables, group, age, and the Post Hoc (Scheffe test) for multiple comparisons were used. The analysis indicated no statistically important differences between Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, but showed statistically important differences in the age factor, visual-motor control (F[subscript 3,16] =5.06, p less than 0.05), speed and upper limbs dexterity (F[subscript 3,16] = 3.65, p less than 0.05) and interaction between group and age for the ability of visual-motor control (F[subscript 3,16] = 4.44, p less than 0.05). The results will show if it is necessary to schedule suitable intervention programs for the improvement of the performance in the specific abilities in order to allow the inclusion in the Physical Education courses. (Contains 7 tables and 1 figure.)