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Hearing loss in children with congenital heart disease: a preliminary report
Insights
Children with serious congenital heart defects have a high risk of hearing loss. Early identification and management are crucial for these patients to improve auditory outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Otolaryngology
- Audiology
Background:
- Advances in medical and surgical care have increased life expectancy for children with congenital heart defects.
- Anatomic studies reveal a high incidence of middle and inner ear anomalies in patients with congenital heart disease.
- Systematic studies on auditory function in this population are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate auditory function in children with serious congenital heart disease.
- To determine the incidence of hearing loss in this patient group.
- To highlight the need for early audiological assessment and management.
Main Methods:
- Fifty children with serious congenital heart disease underwent otologic examination.
- Auditory brainstem-evoked response (ABR) testing was performed on all participants.
- Patients ranged in age from 3 days to 17 years and 8 months.
Main Results:
- Eight patients (16%) exhibited hearing loss with normal otologic examinations.
- 14 patients had hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion.
- 28 patients demonstrated normal hearing based on ABR testing.
Conclusions:
- Children with serious congenital heart disease have a high incidence of hearing loss, independent of otitis media with effusion.
- This patient group is at significant risk for auditory impairment.
- Early identification and comprehensive audiological management are recommended for children with congenital heart disease.
Abstract:
Life expectancy for children with serious congenital heart defects has dramatically increased in recent years due to advances in medical and surgical care. Anatomic studies of temporal bones in patients with non-syndromic congenital heart disease have demonstrated a high incidence of middle and inner ear anomalies. Systematic study of auditory function in these patients has not been reported. Fifty children with serious congenital heart disease have been evaluated with otologic examination and auditory brainstem-evoked response (ABR) testing. The patients ranged in age from 3 days to 17 years-8 months. Eight patients had hearing loss and normal otologic examinations, 14 patients had hearing loss and associated otitis media with effusion, and 28 patients had normal hearing by ABR testing. These results show a high incidence (16%) of hearing loss not associated with otitis media with effusion in the study population. We suggest that children with serious congenital heart disease are at high risk for hearing loss. This patient group will benefit from early identification, and appropriate medical and audiologic management.