Objective: This study aimed to compare hand-eye coordination and reaction time in children with cochlear implants, distinguishing between those with and without cognitive impairment. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included children with cochlear implants. Demographic data were obtained from parents using a structured form. Participants were divided into two groups according to Modified Paediatric Mini Mental Scale scores: Cognitive Impairment Group and NonImpairment Group. Cognitive impairment was defined using age-based cutoffs (<31 for ages 7-9 years; <33 for ages 10-12 years). Assessments included the Reaction Time Test (Newtest 1000) and the Hand-Eye Coordination Test (Hole Steadiness Test). Results: A total of 66 children participated, including 35 in the Cognitive Impairment Group and 31 in the Non-Impairment Group. No significant differences were found between groups regarding gender or hearing aid type. However, comparisons of clinical measurements revealed significant differences in hearing loss (dB), reaction time, steadiness (mistakes), total time spent on the condition, and error time (p<0.05).Specifically, children in the Cognitive Impairment Group exhibited significantly higher reaction times and error rates compared to the Non-Impairment Group. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that children with cochlear implants who also have cognitive impairment possess lower hand-eye coordination skills and longer reaction times compared to their peers without cognitive impairment. This suggests that cognitive deficits may directly impact motor control and processing speed, likely due to shared neural pathways. These findings highlight the interconnectedness of cognitive and motor systems, emphasizing the need for comprehensive interventions that address both domains in this population.
Çekok et al. (Thu,) studied this question.