Journal of Modern Rehabilitation

The Effect of Sign Language on the Development of Language of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children: Systematic Review

Farnoush Jarollahi, Tayyebe Fallahnezhad, Farideh Aslibeigi — Sun, 04 May 2025 11:04:32 +0430

Objectives: To systematically review and evaluate the evidence regarding the effect of sign language on language development in deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Method: A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, Scholar Google, and ProQuest from 1995 until April 2024., with no language restrictions, was conducted. The two authors independently assessed the risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
Results: Six studies involving 259 participants found that sign language exposure benefits language development in deaf children with hearing aids/cochlear implants. Children exposed to sign language showed similar or even better-spoken language skills than those with limited sign language exposure. Encouraging parents to learn sign language can significantly support deaf children's communication and language development.
Conclusion: Deaf children with cochlear implants benefit most from a communication approach tailored to their needs. Early intervention, parental involvement, and a rich language environment (signed or spoken) are key. While sign language exposure shows promise, more research is needed, especially on its long-term effects and use by hearing parents. PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42023402357

The Impact of Tinnitus on Mental Health

Bashar Ali Naji, Asad Hameed Hameed Alnajar — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0430

Background: Tinnitus, the perception of sound without external stimuli, affects approximately 14.4% of adults globally and significantly impacts mental health. It is commonly associated with anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction, contributing to a decreased quality of life. Tinnitus can be classified as subjective or objective, and its severity and associated psychological distress vary widely among individuals.
Methods: A comprehensive review of literature published between 2010 and 2024 was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Keywords related to tinnitus and mental health (e.g., anxiety, depression, mood disorders) were used to identify human studies exploring the psychological impact of tinnitus.
Results: Research consistently demonstrates that individuals with tinnitus experience different rates of anxiety and depression, with prevalence rates ranging from 18.5% to 48.33% for anxiety and 6% to 84% for depression. Shared neural pathways, including the anterior cingulate cortex, insula, and amygdala, contribute to both tinnitus and mental health conditions. Psychological interventions such as Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based therapies (MBIs) have shown effectiveness in reducing tinnitus distress and improving mental well-being.
Conclusion: Tinnitus has a significant impact on mental health, contributing to anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. A multidisciplinary approach addressing both auditory and psychological aspects of tinnitus is crucial for effective management. Further research is needed to optimize treatment strategies and understand the complex interplay between tinnitus and mental health.

Mechanisms of Listening Effort in Individuals with Hearing Loss

Zahra Iran Pour Mobarakeh, Marzieh Amiri, Elham Tavanai, Vida Rahimi — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 15:45:34 +0430

Background and Aim: Listening effort refers to the cognitive resources required to understand speech, particularly in challenging listening environments. Individuals with hearing loss experience increased listening effort due to auditory deficits, affecting their communication and cognitive load. Understanding the mechanisms behind listening effort is essential for developing effective hearing interventions. This study aims to explore the mechanisms of listening effort in individuals with hearing impairments.
Material and Methods: A narrative review was conducted using specific keywords in Google Scholar (as a search engine) and the research databases Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. Relevant articles were selected based on their alignment with the focus on the mechanisms of listening effort in individuals with hearing loss.
Results: Hearing loss triggers compensatory cognitive strategies, engaging prefrontal regions and working memory to process degraded auditory signals. Neural adaptations, including cross-modal plasticity and reliance on top-down processing, further elevate mental workload. Degraded temporal processing and attentional demands in noisy environments exacerbate effort, often leading to fatigue.
Conclusion: Understanding these mechanisms informs interventions such as adaptive hearing technologies, cognitive training to optimize resource allocation, and personalized communication strategies. Integrating neurophysiological insights into clinical practice can reduce cognitive fatigue and enhance real-world communication outcomes.

Effects of Physical Therapy Management on Gross Motor Function and Spasticity among Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 11:46:32 +0430

Background: Cerebral Palsy is the one of leading cause of disability among pediatric population, especially in Asia. Permanent disability is mostly due to the spasticity and poor gross motor function, adding significant socioeconomic burden on healthcare system. This study evaluate the effectiveness of Physical Therapy based interventions on improving Gross Motor Function and reducing Spasticity.
Material and Methods: A thorough search on CINAHL, PubMed, PEDro, Web of Science, and Scopus from February to July 2024 for studies assessing spasticity by Modified Ashworth Scale and gross motor function by GMFM-88 Standing/Walking dimensions in children with diplegic CP. Seventeen eligible trials were analyzed using fixed/random effects models in MedCalc.
Results: The analysis showed significant improvements in walking ability p < 0.0001 (CI 95%= (0.20. 0.50), SMD= 0.563, Q=43.9325) and standing ability p = 0.0004 (CI 95%= (0.20. 0.50), SMD= 0.187, Q=22.5239) in the experimental group, as measured by the GMFM-88. However, there was no overall significant impact on all dimensions of GMFM-88 p = 0.5821 (CI 95%= (-0.0508. 0.301), SMD= 0.125, Q=6.5843). Additionally, interventions targeting spasticity reduction showed no significant effects p = 0.1018 (CI 95%= (0.20. 0.50), SMD= 0.306, Q=10.5922) according to the Modified Ashworth scale.
Conclusion: This meta-analysis reveals that modified suit therapy, vibration therapy, and hippotherapy enhance standing and walking in the GMFM-88 but did not reveal significant effects of physical therapy interventions in improving overall gross motor function or reducing spasticity in children with diplegic cerebral palsy.

Dysarthria and Dysphagia in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Frequency and Comorbidity in a Cross-Sectional Study

Saeed Sheykh chalandari, Morteza Farazi, Zahra Sadeghi, Mehdi Norouzi — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 11:12:37 +0430

Objective: To determine the frequency, comorbidity, and relationship between dysarthria and dysphagia in patients with tSCI.
Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 61 patients with tSCI from rehabilitation centers in Tehran, Iran, between January and September 2024. Dysarthria and dysphagia were assessed using the Persian-adapted versions of the Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment (FDA) and the Northwestern Dysphagia Patient Check Sheet (NDPCS), respectively. Logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate the association between these conditions, with odds ratios (ORs) calculated to quantify the strength of the relationship.
Results: Dysarthria was observed in 87% of participants, with mixed dysarthria being the most prevalent subtype (34%). Dysphagia was identified in 49% of participants, of whom 49% exhibited both disorders concurrently. Logistic regression analysis indicated that patients with dysarthria were approximately nine times more likely to experience dysphagia (OR = 9.69, p < 0.05), even after adjustments for weight and gender.
Conclusion: This study underscores the high prevalence and significant comorbidity of dysarthria and dysphagia in patients with tSCI, with dysarthria identified as a robust predictor of dysphagia. These findings highlight the necessity of concurrent assessment and integrated rehabilitation approaches targeting both disorders to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.