Equilibrium Reactions in Normal Children and in Boys with Sensory Integrative Dysfunction

Abstract

Equilibrium improves with age and is impaired in children with sensory integrative (SI) dysfunction. While objective developmental tests of equilibrium (beam walking and one-legged standing balance) exist, no other objective tests of equilibrium as typically evaluated in the clinic are available. The purpose of this investigation was to identify behavioral aspects of equilibrium that correlated with age and / or discriminated between normal boys and boys with SI dysfunction. The angle of tilt of the trunk from vertical while reaching laterally and standing on a tilt board (Tilt Board Reach) correlated with age in normal boys, normal girls, and boys with SI dysfunction. When considered together, angle of tilt of the trunk from vertical while reaching laterally and standing on a flat platform (Flat Board Reach) and maximum angle of tilt of the tilt board before stepping off when the tilt board was manually tipped (Tilt Board Tip) were the best discriminators between normal boys and boys with SI dysfunction. Total scores of expected behavioral responses were less reliable, discriminated less well, and tended to have lower correlations with age.