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Cognitive performance of school children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss
Carlos F Martínez-Cruz1, Adrián Poblano, María P Conde-Reyes
1Departamento de Seguimiento Pediátrico, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Dr. Isidro Espinosa de Reyes, Mexico, DF, Mexico. drmtzcarlos@yahoo.com.mx
Insights
Children with early-onset unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (U-SNHL) may experience lower cognitive performance compared to peers with normal hearing. Further research is needed to understand long-term impacts and potential interventions for this hearing impairment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Cognitive science
Background:
- Early-onset unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (U-SNHL) is associated with potential academic challenges.
- Limited research exists comparing cognitive development in children with U-SNHL and those with normal hearing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the cognitive performance of school-aged children with perinatal U-SNHL against a control group of children with bilateral normal hearing (BNH).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observation was conducted on children from a prospective Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) follow-up study.
- Audiometric studies and Stanford-Binet intelligence scales (Terman-Merrill) were administered.
- Statistical analysis included Student t-tests, chi-squared tests, and relative risk calculations.
Main Results:
- The study included 21 children with U-SNHL and 60 with BNH, with a median age of 7 years.
- Children with U-SNHL had significantly longer NICU stays and higher exposure to risk factors like hyperbilirubinemia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
- Significantly lower Terman-Merrill intelligence subscale scores were observed in the U-SNHL group.
Conclusions:
- Children with U-SNHL may exhibit lower intelligence coefficients compared to BNH children.
- Longitudinal studies are crucial to determine the persistence of this cognitive disadvantage and identify factors influencing reversibility.
Background And Aims:
Some studies have shown low school performance of children with early-onset unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (U-SNHL). We undertook this study to compare cognitive performance of school-children with perinatal U-SNHL with that of a group of bilateral normal hearing (BNH) children.
Methods:
We performed a cross-sectional observation from our prospective study that included children discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) who were followed to determine their hearing, language, and neurocognitive development. We performed audiometric studies and Stanford-Binet intelligence scale after Terman-Merrill version examinations. Statistical comparisons were carried out with Student t and chi(2) tests. We calculated U-SNHL-associated relative risk with a 95% confidence level.
Results:
We followed 21 children with U-SNHL and 60 with BNH. Median age of both groups at the time of study was 7 years. Hearing loss severity ranged from severe to profound. Average number of days of stay at the NICU in the U-SNHL group was 26+/-4 days, whereas for the BNH group this was 8+/-2 days (p<0.001). U-SNHL-associated variables included hyperbilirubinemia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, furosemide exposure, and hypoglycemia. Average and standard deviation of total and of both Terman-Merrill intelligence subscale coefficients were significantly lower in the U-SNHL group.
Conclusions:
Children with U-SNHL may present lower intelligence coefficients than children with BNH. It is important to observe whether this handicap continues throughout the child's lifetime and to ascertain whether there are certain factors associated with reversibility of disability.
