Progressive Hearing Loss in Early Childhood.
Carmen Barreira-Nielsen1, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Serena Hashem
11Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Department, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil; 2Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; 3Child Hearing Laboratory, and 4Clinical Research Unit, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Ear and Hearing
|August 25, 2016
Summary
Nearly half of children identified with hearing loss showed deterioration, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring. Craniofacial anomalies were linked to a lower risk of progressive hearing loss in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Hearing Science
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Progressive hearing loss in children can significantly impact language development.
- Accurate tracking of hearing loss progression was challenging before universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the proportion of children experiencing progressive hearing loss within a UNHS program cohort.
- To identify risk factors associated with hearing loss progression in children.
Main Methods:
- A population-based prospective cohort study followed children identified via UNHS from 2003-2013.
- Defined progressive hearing loss using two criteria: a ≥20 dB change in pure-tone average or a ≥10 dB decrease at adjacent frequencies.
- Analyzed audiometric data and clinical characteristics, including Joint Committee on Infant Hearing risk indicators.
Main Results:
- Of 330 children, 47.9% (158) exhibited some hearing threshold deterioration.
- Within the progressive loss group, 57.3% with initial bilateral loss experienced deterioration in one or both ears.
- Craniofacial anomalies were inversely associated with progressive hearing loss (OR=0.27, p=0.01).
Conclusions:
- Close postneonatal monitoring is crucial for children with identified hearing loss.
- Early identification and consistent follow-up are essential for timely intervention and optimal outcomes.
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