The influence of hearing impairments on the functional state of sensory systems in discus throwers

Abstract

This article examines the functional characteristics of sensory systems in discus throwers with hearing impairments. The aim of the study is to identify differences in sensory functionality between healthy athletes and those with hearing disorders. The adaptation of athletes with hearing impairments to psychophysical loads occurs through regular training of the nervous and sensory systems. A crucial role in this process is played by the visual, vestibular, kinesthetic, and tactile-vibratory analyzers, which ensure accuracy and coordination of movements. Therefore, studying the functioning of sensorimotor systems in both hearing and hearing-impaired athletes is essential for determining effective approaches to correcting their motor activity. The results obtained indicate the feasibility of developing a specialized training program aimed at targeted stimulation of the visual and vestibular analyzers. This approach can effectively correct the identified deviations and partially compensate for hearing impairments by enhancing the functions of the motor analyzer.

The research methods included analysis, generalization, and systematization of data from scientific and methodological literature; the use of psychophysiological methods (simple visual-motor reaction, reaction to a moving object, tapping test, choice and discrimination reaction, critical flicker fusion frequency, and attention assessment); as well as methods of mathematical statistics for processing the obtained results.

The study involved 11 female athletes specializing in discus throw with different qualification levels: 7 athletes hold Category I, and 4 hold Category II. Among them, 5 athletes have hearing impairments, and 6 are healthy. The research was conducted from March to May 2025 at the Youth Sports School for Disabled Athletes of the Kyiv Regional Center "Invasport" and the Kyiv Regional Center for Olympic Preparation in Brovary.