Association of Pediatric Hearing Loss and Head Injury in a Population-Based Study
Elliott D Kozin1,2, Renata M Knoll1,2, Neil Bhattacharyya1,2
1Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Insights
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children significantly increases the risk of hearing loss. Children with a history of TBI are over 2.5 times more likely to experience auditory problems.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Audiology
- Public health research
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a primary cause of acquired long-term disability in children.
- Auditory dysfunction is a recognized potential consequence of pediatric TBI.
- Limited contemporary research quantifies the link between head injury and hearing loss in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and hearing loss in children.
- To quantify the prevalence of hearing problems in pediatric TBI survivors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) for 2017-2018.
- Analyzed the reported prevalence of deafness or hearing problems in children with and without a history of TBI.
- Calculated the odds ratio to determine the statistical association between TBI and hearing loss.
Main Results:
- Children with a history or current brain injury/concussion reported higher rates of hearing loss (3.2%) compared to those without (1.2%).
- The odds ratio for hearing loss in children with TBI was 2.67 (P < .001).
- This indicates children with TBI are 2.67 times more likely to have concurrent hearing complaints.
Conclusions:
- A significant association exists between traumatic brain injury and hearing loss in the pediatric population.
- Pediatric TBI survivors face a substantially elevated risk of developing auditory dysfunction.
- Further research and clinical attention are warranted to address hearing health in children with TBI.
Abstract:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of acquired long-term disability during childhood, and it may result in wide range of negative developmental consequences. Auditory dysfunction is generally recognized to be a possible sequela of pediatric TBI. Unfortunately, few contemporary studies have quantified the association between head injury and hearing loss in the pediatric population. The National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) for the combined years 2017-2018 was used to determine the association of hearing loss with TBI. Deafness or problems with hearing were more commonly reported in children with a history or current brain injury/concussion compared to those without any such history (3.2% [70,000] and 1.2% [830,000] children, respectively; odds ratio, 2.67; P < .001). Findings suggest a notable association between TBI and hearing loss. Children with a history of TBI are 2.67 times more likely to have concurrent hearing complaints.Level of Evidence: IV.
