Comparison of Pulmonary Functions and Respiratory Muscle Strength Between Children With Hearing Impairment and Healthy Peers

This study aims to compare pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength between children with hearing impairment and their healthy peers. Hearing plays a critical role not only in communication but also in cognitive, sensory, and psychomotor development. Children with hearing impairment may experience balance and coordination problems, vestibular dysfunction, and reduced muscle strength, which may negatively affect respiratory function. Although several studies have evaluated pulmonary function in children with hearing impairment, research investigating respiratory muscle strength in this population is limited. To our knowledge, no peer-reviewed study has directly compared respiratory muscle strength between children with hearing impairment and healthy controls. This study will compare spirometric parameters and respiratory muscle strength measurements between children with hearing impairment and age-matched healthy controls.

Inclusion Criteria For Children With Hearing Loss Group: * Aged between 7 and 16 years * Diagnosed with hearing loss * No neurological or orthopedic disorders * No syndrome and/or disease causing intellectual disability, developmental disorder, or visual impairment * No use of medication affecting respiratory function within the last 3 months * Written informed consent obtained from parent or legal guardian For Healthy Control Group: * Aged between 7 and 16 years * No hearing impairment * No neurological or orthopedic disorders * No syndrome and/or disease causing intellectual disability, developmental disorder, or visual impairment * No use of medication affecting respiratory function within the last 3 months * Written informed consent obtained from parent or legal guardian Exclusion Criteria (Both Groups) * Intellectual disability preventing participation in assessment procedures * Presence of chronic respiratory disease * Inability to perform pulmonary function or respiratory muscle strength tests properly