investigating the effect of physical activities on social skills in athletes and non-athletes deaf and hard of hearing students

Background: hearing loss and deafness can significantly impact the socialization process, potentially leading to developmental delays, communication challenges, and difficulties in forming social relationships. objectives: this study compares social skills among deaf students who are athletes and non-athletes. in addition, it investigates the effect of physical activities on social skills in deaf and hard-of-hearing students.methods: this cross-sectional study included all deaf and hard-of-hearing students between the ages of 12 and 17 years. the students were categorized into two groups based on their participation in sports activities, namely athletes and non-athletes. the researchers used matson’s social skills questionnaire to assess the students’ social skills and their various dimensions.results: the mean±sd age of student-athletes and non-athletes was 15.83±1.97 and 17.08±2.12 years, respectively. the findings indicated a significant difference between the mean of appropriate social skills, antisocial behaviors, aggressiveness, impulsive behaviors, feelings of superiority, high self-confidence, and peer relationships between deaf and hard-of-hearing students who are athletes and non-athletes. conclusions: sports can serve as a valuable avenue for deaf and hard-of-hearing children to foster understanding and interaction among themselves. engaging in sports activities may enhance their social skills.