Parents' views on the role of physical activity in maintaining the health of children with hearing impairment

Abstract

The article examines the role of physical activity in maintaining and strengthening the health of children with hearing impairments through the prism of parental views. The research problem is caused by the fact that children with sensory impairments belong to a risk group for the development of concomitant deviations in physical and psycho-emotional development, and their level of motor activity is often lower than that of their peers without impairments. Parents are the main agents of influence on a child's lifestyle, determining the level of their participation in sports or health activities. The purpose of the article is to identify the attitude of parents of children with hearing impairments towards physical activity and its role in maintaining and strengthening health. To achieve this goal, a set of theoretical and empirical methods was used, including analysis of scientific literature, questionnaires, and data generalization. The results of the study showed that the vast majority of parents recognize physical activity as an important condition for the physical and social development of a child. At the same time, in practice, the regularity of classes is insufficient, which is associated with a lack of adapted programs, a shortage of qualified teachers, financial barriers, and low awareness of parents about the possibilities of inclusive classes. It was also found that the active position of parents directly correlates with the level of physical activity of children. It was concluded that the development of adapted physical education programs, training specialists to work with children with hearing impairments, and raising parental awareness are key conditions for forming a healthy lifestyle. The results obtained can serve as a basis for further scientific research and practical initiatives aimed at integrating children with sensory impairments into the sphere of physical culture and sports.