Hearing loss and hearing aids: the Singapore School for the Deaf experience

This is a retrospective study of the population of 180 students in the Singapore School for the Deaf between September 1989 to June 1990. It was found that the average age at which the hearing loss was diagnosed was four years. Rubella accounted for 13 cases (7.2%), hereditary factors for nine cases (5.0%), ototoxicity for two cases (1.1%), trauma for two cases (1.1%) and the other 154 cases (85.6%) were of unknown causes. The average hearing loss at 500 Hz, 1 and 2 kHz is 98 dBHL. The students use either the body-worn type or the behind-the-ear type of hearing aids for amplification. There was little motivation to use the aids because some of them were non or malfunctioning, thereby giving little benefit or they were improperly adjusted for the child, resulting in uncomfortably loud amplification. Also, poorly fitting earmoulds give rise to feedback problems. Although early detection of hearing loss is important, it would be of little value if there is no provision of a good intervention programme with ongoing support.