Effects of music-rhythmic stimulation program on certain motor abilities of children with hearing impairment

Certain research on the development of motor skills of children with hearing impairment shows that their abilities are not age-appropriate, although they have the same basis for development as hearing children. Education of children with hearing impairments is predominantly focused on hearing and speech rehabilitation, while activities related to music and sports are mostly neglected. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of musical-rhythmic stimulation on the development of selected motor skills of children with hearing impairment aged six to fifteen. For this purpose, a special music and dance program of workshops for 26 children with hearing impairments (12 boys and 14 girls) was created for the period of four and a half months. At the beginning of the program implementation, the initial measurement of body coordination and speed of movement was performed, and the final measurement through five standardized tests at the end. The paired samples t-test was used to analyze the effects of applied musical-rhythmic and dance stimulations. The results of the research indicated certain statistically significant differences in the ability to coordinate the body and speed of movement, i.e. that the program of music and dance workshops has a positive effect on the development of selected motor skills in children with hearing impairment.