Exercise Program for Deaf Seniors to Increase Their Balance and Fitness

Balance and Fitness Enhancement Program for Deaf Older Adults

Deaf older adults 60 years and older are enrolled into an 8-week exercise program delivered in American Sign Language. The class meets twice a week, with handout and video homework.

Outcome measures are self-reported balance confidence, lower extremity strength, walking and agility, and standing balance. In addition, attendance and keeping up with exercises at home will be tracked.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Fall; Old Age; Deaf; American Sign Language
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Balance in Motion Exercise class

Detailed Description

The intervention will be 8 weeks of 2 meetings/wk exercise class, delivered entirely in ASL.

Homework exercise will also be provided.

10-12 participants will be recruited for each of the 4 semesters of offerings.

Physical balance as well as balance confidence will be measured prior to and immediately after the 8-week intervention. In addition, balance confidence will be measured 6-months after the conclusion of the intervention period.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • District of Columbia
    • Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States, 20002
      • Gallaudet University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Study Population

Deaf older adults who live in the community and use ASL

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Deaf
• Uses American Sign Language (ASL) fluently
• Community-dwelling
• Able to walk independently for at least 20 ft
• Willing to attend classes twice a week at Gallaudet University

Exclusion Criteria:

• Blindness
• Dementia
• Neurological conditions

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Single Group; Deaf older adults.	Behavioral: Balance in Motion Exercise class; 8 weeks of 2 meetings/wk exercise class, with a once weekly homework exercise, delivered entirely in ASL

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sit-to-Stand	The number of times a person can stand from a chair and sit down, without using hands.	1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention
Timed Up-and-Go	The time it takes for a person to stand from a chair, walk 10 ft, turn around, walk back, and sit back down.	1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention
Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration on Balance	The measure of how steadily a person can stand under 4 conditions (eyes open, on firm surface, eyes closed on firm surface, eyes open on foam, and eyes closed on foam)	1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention
Sit and Reach	How far a person can reach beyond their toes. Measure of flexibility.	1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention
Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale	A self-report measure of how confident a person is in not falling under various conditions. Reported in 0-100%; higher score means more confidence (better outcome).	1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention, 6 months after intervention
Fall Risk Questionnaire	A self-report measure of the number of risk factors a person exhibits. Reported in a scale of 0-14 points; higher score indicates a greater risk (worse outcome).	1 - 21 days before the start of intervention; within 2 weeks of the end of intervention, 6 months after intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Attendance rate	How many exercise class sessions, out of 16, a participant attended	During intervention
Step Count	The number of steps gathered through Fitbit	During intervention
Effective exercise level	The Active Zone Minutes gathered through Fitbit	During intervention
Self-reported exercise level	The participant's report on how much time they are spending on exercises	6 months after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gallaudet University
• Collaborators: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Chizuko Tamaki, AuD, PhD, Gallaudet University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 5, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 25, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 6, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 17, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; Older adults; Deaf; Fall risk; Senior citizen
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Motor Activity
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB-FY24-34; 1R15AG087454-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No