Screening of school-aged hearing impaired children

Three hundred sixty hearing-impaired students were screened for visual problems, including Usher's syndrome, with a complete ophthalmologic exam and electroretinography (ERG). Over 25% were found to have a significant refractive error, and approximately 32% had one or more pathologic findings. Overall, 43% either had a significant refractive error or pathologic finding. The incidence of Usher's syndrome was estimated to be between 1.1% and 1.9% in the hearing impaired student population. The results emphasize the need for a complete ophthalmologic examination, and possible ERG testing, in the hearing impaired student population.