en Pediatric Psychology Original Article Original Article <strong>Background</strong>: Hearing loss and deafness can significantly impact the socialization process, potentially leading to developmental delays, communication challenges, and difficulties in forming social relationships.&nbsp;<br> <strong>Objectives</strong>: 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.<br> <strong>Methods</strong>: 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&rsquo;s social skills questionnaire to assess the students&rsquo; social skills and their various dimensions.<br> <strong>Results</strong>: The Mean&plusmn;SD age of student-athletes and non-athletes was 15.83&plusmn;1.97 and 17.08&plusmn;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.&nbsp;<br> <strong>Conclusions</strong>: 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. Physical activities, Social skills, Deaf, Athletics 161 168 http://jpr.mazums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1246-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Fatemeh Eghbalian eghbalian_fa@yahoo.com 100319475328460012433 100319475328460012433 No Hearing Disorders Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Amir Bahariani amirbahariani@gmail.com 100319475328460012434 0009-0004-8454-6867 No Hearing Disorders Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Roya Najafi-vosogh roya.najafivosough@gmail.com 100319475328460012435 100319475328460012435 No Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. Homa Naderifar Hnaderifar121@gmail.com 100319475328460012436 100319475328460012436 Yes Hearing Disorders Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.