[Analysis of 104 children with hearing defects (author's transl)]

This is a report on 104 children with bilateral sensorineural deafness at an institute for children with hearing defects. The children were analyzed etiologically, familial genetic cases are predominant and even in the group of hearing defects of unknown cause, there are surely those where in fact a genetic defect just remained undetected. Hearing defects following rubella during pregnancy will become rare as rubella prophylaxis continues to grow more widespread. Similarly, other prenatal and perinatal causes can also be expected to become less common now that prenatal check-ups are more prevalent and perinatology is achieving the success it is. For this very reason too, deafness following hyperbilirubinemia in a new-born baby is becoming less frequent. Ototoxic drugs must be continued to be avoided especially in combined use and in view of the probable increase in familial genetic cases, human genetic counselling must be propagated as well emphasis laid on early detection and early treatment.