The sound localization ability of students with visual impairment in goalball players, non-goalball players, and their peers with typical vision

Abstract

Sound localization is the listener’s ability to detect the location of a sound based on direction and distance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability to orient to sounds of goalball players with visual impairment ( n = 19), non-players with visual impairment ( n = 16), and their sighted peers ( n = 15). All participants were in middle or high school. An acoustics room with four speakers was used to assess sound localization abilities. Results revealed that the goalball players with visual impairments had better localization performance ( p = .001) than the other two groups. The results suggest that engaging in goalball play may support sound localization, a skill useful in orientation and mobility, and other daily living skills.