engleski

Sports-Anamnesis Profile of Deaf Elite Athletes in Croatia

The aim of this research was to determine, for the first time, sports and medical history profile of top elite deaf athletes in the Republic of Croatia, also to collect information about the athlete's hearing status, sports initiation, competitive status, and preferences for coaches and integrated or segregated competitions. The study was conducted on a sample of 31 top deaf athletes from seven sports. For the purpose of this investigation a questionnaire was used (Kurkova, Valkova & Scheetz, 2011). During competitions on national level all respondents participated with normal hearing peers’ athletes what does an important role to their integration into the hearing community. Results of this study indicate deaf athletes desire for greater opportunities to participate in the chosen sport, so are mostly forced to integrate into a standard system of sport. The findings confirm positive parent’s role in supporting and developing the child's desire to participate in sports. Period of sports initiation of top Croatian deaf athletes, is on average, at the start of attending higher grades of elementary school, so it is necessary to promote greater importance, as well as to inform parents, health professionals and educational institutions about the possibilities for including children with hearing loss in both regular and in deaf sport system at the early age.

integrated competition, separate competitions, hearing status, sports initiation

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