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The age of diagnosis of sensorineural hearing impairment in children
1Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield 62794-1618, USA.
Insights
Delays in diagnosing pediatric sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) are common, with diagnosis age remaining high. Enhancing physician awareness and developing evaluation guidelines are crucial for timely intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric audiology
- Otolaryngology
- Public health
Background:
- Pediatric sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) diagnosis and treatment are often delayed.
- Factors contributing to these delays and the thoroughness of medical evaluations require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors causing delays in pediatric SNHI diagnosis and treatment.
- To assess the comprehensiveness of medical evaluations for children with SNHI.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 291 children with SNHI at a state-supported school for the deaf.
- Data collected from school databases, student records, and parental questionnaires.
- Evaluated age at diagnosis/treatment, delay factors, etiological evaluation methods, and parental satisfaction.
Main Results:
- Significant delays in SNHI diagnosis were observed, with no earlier diagnosis for children with risk factors.
- Caucasian children were diagnosed earlier than Black or Hispanic children, irrespective of socioeconomic status.
- Medical evaluations post-diagnosis were inconsistent, leading to low parental satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- The average age of SNHI diagnosis is unacceptably high.
- There is a critical need to increase physician awareness of childhood deafness and establish clear evaluation guidelines.
- Parental concerns regarding hearing and language development are vital and must be prioritized.
Objective:
To identify factors responsible for delays in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI), and to assess the thoroughness of medical evaluation in these children.
Design:
Retrospective analysis.
Setting:
State-supported school for the deaf.
Patients And Other Participants:
291 children with SNHI, the bast majority of whom are profoundly hearing impaired. Data were collected from the school's database, individual student records, and a parental questionnaire.
Main Outcome Measures:
(1) The age of diagnosis and treatment of SNHI; (2) actors leading to a delay in diagnosis; (3) current medical evaluations used to determine the etiology of SNHI; and (4) the level of parental satisfaction with the evaluation process.
Results:
Many children with SNHI experience delays in diagnosis from the time of first suspicion of hearing loss. Children with a risk factor for SNHI are diagnosed no earlier than children without a risk factor. Caucasian children are diagnosed significantly earlier than either Black or Hispanic children, regardless of socioeconomic status. Inconsistent medical evaluation ensues following the diagnosis of SNHI, and parental satisfaction with this process is low.
Conclusions:
The average age of diagnosis of SNHI remains unacceptably high. There exists a need to enhance physician awareness of childhood deafness and to develop guidelines for the medical evaluation in cases of pediatric SNHI. Lastly, the importance of parental concern regarding a child's hearing or language development must be re-emphasized.