Management and outcome: children fitted with hearing aids in Ireland

The Republic of Ireland has a total population of 3.5 million people, mainly rural or in small towns, a rapidly declining birthrate during 1984 to 1991, and a geographically stable children's population. A unified Audiology Service is provided by the National Rehabilitation Board for the fitting of hearing aids to all children deemed to require them. The current study outlines a database analysis of all children fitted with hearing aids for the first time in 1984 or 1991. Follow-up information on the status (in 1991-1992) of those fitted in 1984 was obtained, with regard to hearing loss, schooling and changes in aiding. Data on severe/profound losses in particular, and the trends in service provision are examined. Similar numbers of children were fitted with hearing aids in the two years sampled, even though the overall degree of hearing loss amongst this population had fallen.