AN INTERPRETATION OF ACTUAL AND PERCEIVED RIGHT AND LEFT HAND ISOMETRIC GRIP STRENGTH OF UNSIGHTED AND HARD-OF-HEARING CHILDRENS

Dr. Nagaraja S., Dr. Gajanana Prabhu B. and Dr. Prakash S.M.

Abstract

The present modern society we are seeing many people are suffering different type of disability. In this time need more reinforcement of physical, psychological and psychosocial development. Vision and hearing loss is not only a bundle of individual hardships during his early developing years and he also facing many problems and challenges to the responsible adults in his life. The reason of the current study was to measure the isometric left and right hand grip strength of unsighted and hard of hearing special going children of Karnataka state. Further the level of perception on isometric hand grip strength was also correlated with their actual status. The present study was conducted on four hundred and fourteen unsighted and hard of hearing school going children selected through purposive random sampling technique. The study included unsighted children (N=243) and hard of hearing impairment (N=171) in male category. All the subjects were residents of special schools within Karnataka state. Their age ranged between 13 to 18 years. The right and left hand isometric grip strength was done by following the standard procedure and level of perception on isometric grip strength of unsighted and hard of hearing school children was done using a 3 point likert scale. The right hand grip strength of 13 to 14 years with 19.60 ± 5.72; 2.75 ± 5.73 in 15 to 16 years; and 26.00 ± 5.31 in 17 to 18 years. The left hand grip strength was 18.16 ± 5.29 in 13 to 14 years; 22.34 ± 5.51 in 15 to 16 years; and 24.15 ± 5.39 in 17 to 18 years. On the basis of the findings of the present investigation it is concluded that the unsighted and hard of hearing school going children weak hand grip strength is an indication of low physical fitness level. Since unsighted and hard of hearing school going children need to perform their daily tasks at their own, it is imperative to have enough strength. Further, the unsighted and hard of hearing school children under investigation are unable to significantly moderate positive linear relationship their right and left hand grip strength precisely.

Keywords: Hand Grip Strength, Dynamometer, Disability, Assessment and Evaluation