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Prevalence, aetiology, and care of severe and profound hearing loss
1Research Group on Handicap and Health System, INSERM, Toulouse, France.
Insights
Severe hearing loss in children affects 0.54 per 1000, with hereditary and infectious causes identified. Early intervention is crucial, as delayed care leads to significant learning difficulties, impacting social and educational outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Audiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Severe and profound hearing loss (SPHL) in children presents significant challenges.
- Understanding the prevalence and etiology of SPHL is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prevalence, origins, and associated learning difficulties of SPHL in a cohort of children.
- To evaluate the timeliness of initial care and the impact of neonatal screening.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 226 children born between 1976-1985.
- Analysis of hereditary, infectious, and perinatal risk factors for SPHL.
- Assessment of learning difficulties and age at initial care.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of SPHL was 0.54 per 1000 children under 9 years.
- Hereditary (20.8%) and infectious (11.5%) origins were identified; etiology remained undetermined in over half of cases.
- Significant learning difficulties were observed, with 64% of children two or more years behind their age group.
Conclusions:
- Despite a decrease in age at initial care, it remains delayed.
- Systematic neonatal screening is recommended to enable earlier intervention.
- Early care for childhood hearing loss can mitigate adverse social and educational impacts.
Abstract:
Severe and profound hearing loss (> 70 dB) were analysed in a retrospective study of 226 children, born between 1976 and 1985, and recruited from three French administrative departments. The prevalence was 0.54 per 1000 children under 9 years old, with no decrease over the study period. A hereditary origin was identified in 20.8% of cases and an infectious origin in 11.5%. Perinatal risk factors were present in 11.5%, while the aetiology was undetermined in more than half the cases. In 85.8% of the children there was no other severe impairment. Marked learning difficulties were observed: 36% of the children were two years behind their age group and 28% were more than two years behind. The age of initial care decreased over the study period but is still too advanced. Systematic neonatal screening would enable earlier care, which should limit the social and educational impact of hearing loss.