Auditory disorders following head injury in children

199 children with blunt head injury were examined. Eighteen fractures of the temporal bone were found, two of which were transverse. In both cases the damaged ear remained completely deaf. Of the 16 longitudinal fracture patients, one was left with a persistent 27 dB conductive hearing loss. In another, surgery revealed fractures of the stapedial crura. Persistent sensorineural hearing loss (greater than or equal to 30 dB) at high frequencies (4 to 8 kHz) was observed in 7% of patients. The results of the audiological tests led to the conclusion that sensorineural hearing loss in association with head injury is generally located in the inner ear. The auditory sequelae after head injury in children were found to be similar to those reported earlier in adults.