Comparing motor development of deaf children of deaf parents and deaf children of hearing parents

Deaf children of deaf parents perform better academically (Ritter-Brinton & Stewart, 1992), linguistically (Courtin, 2000; A Harris, 2001; Vaccari & Marschark, 1997), and socially (Hadadian Rose, 1991; M. Harris, 2001) than Deaf children of hearing parents. Twenty-nine Deaf children in residential schools were assessed to determine if a significant difference also exists in motor development between Deaf children with Deaf parents and Deaf children with hearing parents. In the locomotor area, 78.6% of Deaf children of Deaf parents and 73.3% of Deaf children of hearing parents reached or surpassed average performance levels. In regard to object control, 92.9% of Deaf children of Deaf parents and 93.3% of Deaf children of hearing parents reached or surpassed average performance levels. The study results show no significant difference between the motor development of Deaf children of Deaf parents and Deaf children of hearing parents.