Motor development in deaf children based on Gallahue's model: a review study

Background and Aim: As deaf children grow up, they face difficulties that can affect their physical, emotional, motor, and cognitive deve­lopment. This study reviews the recent studies conducted on motor development of deaf chil­dren based on Gallahue's model. Recent Findings: Few studies have been con­ducted on deaf children's motor development stages; reflexive, rhythmic, rudimentary, and specialized movement. However, many studies investigated the fundamental movement stage with an emphasis on balance. They mostly rep­orted the deaf children’s delay in developing gait velocity (during walking), postural control, static balance, dynamic balance, spatial-tempo­ral coordination, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and motor skills learning, compared with their healthy peers. Conclusion: Delay in motor development in deaf children is not necessarily the result of deafness or vestibular problems, but individual, environmental, and exercise factors are also involved. Providing appropriate educational opportunities for these children, training specia­lized teachers and parents, and holding training courses for hearing specialists can help promote motor development in these children.   Keywords: Motor development; deaf children; fundamental motor skill; Gallahoe's motor development perspective