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Hearing loss in children with Down syndrome
N J Roizen1, C Wolters, T Nicol
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Illinois.
The Journal of Pediatrics
|July 1, 1993
Summary
Children with Down syndrome often have hearing loss. Auditory brain-stem responses revealed significant hearing deficits in most young children with Down syndrome, highlighting the need for early auditory evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Genetics
Background:
- Children with Down syndrome exhibit a high incidence of hearing deficits.
- Conventional hearing tests are challenging for young children (< 3.5 years) with Down syndrome due to cooperation issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess auditory brain-stem responses in infants and young children with Down syndrome.
- To determine the prevalence and type of hearing loss in this population.
Main Methods:
- Auditory brain-stem responses were evaluated in 47 unselected patients aged 2 months to 3.5 years.
- Hearing loss was categorized by type (conductive, mixed, sensorineural) and degree (mild, moderate, severe to profound).
Main Results:
- 34% of children had normal hearing, while 28% had unilateral and 38% had bilateral hearing loss.
- Conductive loss was found in 19 ears, mixed in 14, and sensorineural in 16.
- No association was found between language quotients and the degree of hearing loss.
Conclusions:
- A significant prevalence of hearing loss exists in young children with Down syndrome.
- Early evaluation of auditory brain-stem responses within the first 6 months of life is recommended for children with Down syndrome.