Sensory and balance impairments in Special Olympics athletes: An epidemiological study

ABSTRACT Background Having an intellectual disability increases the likelihood for exhibiting impairments in vision, hearing, and balance. The intersection of these issues has yet to be described in a large cohort. Methods By hosting the largest public health database for individuals with intellectual disability, Special Olympics (SO) offers ∼120,000 assessments completed at competitions between 2007 and 2018. Results Of SO athletes assessed for vision (N = 52,521), hearing (N = 35,073), and balance (N = 31,446), 74%, 28%, and 51% demonstrated a deficit, respectively. Thirteen percent of athletes presenting to three assessments (N = 7,887) showed concurrent impairments. Conclusions The high prevalence of sensory and balance impairments at younger ages (M = 28.8, SD = 14.15) compared to the general population highlights disparities faced by the intellectual disability community and should guide public health policy for improved screening and counselling.