VIDBE-Q 2025 Volume 70 Issue 4
have eye irregularities (Blake & Prasad, 2006). Ear abnormalities, including
atypical structure of the ear and deafness, are another main characteristic with 80%
or more individuals with CHARGE syndrome having ear abnormalities.
Developmental and growth restrictions include stunted growth, growth hormone
deficiencies, and lower IQ scores. Additionally, children with CHARGE syndrome
often have lower muscle tone (Blake & Prasad, 2006).
Additionally, prolonged hospitalization is common in youth with CHARGE
syndrome and can often prevent the children from socializing and participating in
physical activity. A major concern with deafblind children is a low desire to
participate in physical activity due in part to low self-efficacy (Haibach &
Lieberman, 2013). Therefore, if children with deafblindness aren't confident in
their ability to balance they might be less likely to participate in physical activities
(Haibach & Lieberman, 2013). Participating in sports or group exercise typically
requires special consideration for youth with deafblindness to accommodate their
sensory impairments (Lieberman et al., 2025).
The research on the benefits of physical activity on children without
deafblindness is plentiful. However, research on physical activity and motor
competence in children with deafblindness is not comprehensive. Therefore, the
purpose of this manuscript aims to examine the available research on physical
94
