Otologic Pathology and Hearing Loss in Children with Down Syndrome, 6 - 18 Years Old

Ihis article is a retrospective, sin- gle-center, single-surgeon review of all patients with Down syndrome (Trisomy 21) seen at a free- standing children's hospital between January 2000 and December 2011. The aim was to assess for un- recognized otologic pathology and hearing impair- ment in all new patients between six and 18 years old. Two-hundred-nine patients were seen during the study time frame. Fifty-one patients underwent ear tube surgery with eight patients undergoing surgery for at least three sets of ear tubes. Four patients underwent more advanced ear surgeries for perforation, severe retraction with conductive hearing loss, or acquired cholesteatoma.'Ihere were no cervical subluxations or dislocations periopera- tively. 'Ihirty-six of 47 patients between six and 18 years old had some degree of hearing impairment. 'he success rate of otologic surgery is similar to the non-Down syndrome population. A more compre- hensive database should be developed to ascertain the incidence ofhearingimpairmentin school-aged children with Down syndrome.