Hearing Loss in Children: Clinical-Epidemiological Data from Two Different Provinces of the Same Region
Silvia Palma1, Andrea Ciorba2, Laura Nascimbeni3
1Audiology, Primary Care Unit, 41121 Modena, MO, Italy.
Insights
Early hearing detection programs identified hearing loss in 5.6% of infants screened. Understanding local clinical and epidemiological features is crucial for effective hearing rehabilitation planning.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Public Health
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Neonatal hearing screening programs (NHS) are established, but late-onset hearing loss necessitates early hearing detection programs (EHDP).
- This study evaluates infantile hearing loss cases managed within a regional health service following NHS implementation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the outcomes and characteristics of infantile hearing loss cases under regional care since the introduction of neonatal hearing screening.
- To identify differences in audiological risk factors and hearing loss types between two provinces.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective collection of clinical data from 2012-2018 via regional neuropsychiatric services' IT management system.
- Data included audiological risk factors, age at care, hearing loss severity, treatment, and bilingualism exposure for 124 children.
Main Results:
- 124 children were analyzed; 5.6% (7 cases) passed initial hearing screening, while 116 failed.
- Most children accessed neuropsychiatric infantile and adolescence (NPIA) services within their first year.
- Significant provincial differences were observed in audiological risk factors and unilateral hearing loss prevalence.
Conclusions:
- Knowledge of local clinical-epidemiological features is vital for optimizing pediatric hearing rehabilitation programs.
- Tailoring interventions based on regional data can improve outcomes for children with hearing loss.
Background:
In many countries, neonatal hearing screening programs (NHS) have been available for many years; however, because of the presence of hearing loss at late onset, early hearing detection programs (EHDP) have been implemented. The aim of this study was to evaluate all cases of infantile hearing loss under the care of two different provinces of a regional health service since the introduction of NHS.
Methods:
Clinical data (the presence of audiological risk factors, age at which children are placed under the care of health service, entity of hearing loss, treatment, and exposure to bilingualism) were retrospectively collected during the period from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2018, starting from the IT management system used in all of the regional neuropsychiatric services.
Results:
In total, 124 children were included-116 cases failed the screening, 1 case had an untraceable result, and 7 cases (5.6%) had hearing screening that passed. Most of the children were placed under the care of a neuropsychiatric infantile and adolescence (NPIA) service within the first year of life. The main differences across the two provinces concerned the percentages of audiological risk factors and the number of unilateral hearing loss cases.
Conclusion:
In order to plan and manage hearing rehabilitation programs for children in the best way, it is very important to know the local clinical-epidemiological features of the population.
