[No evidence for hearing aid-induced progressive pediatric hearing loss in the Cologne region]

Progressive hearing loss during childhood caused by a hearing-aid induced deterioration has been discussed controversely since 1939. However, it is unchallenged that in cases of profound sensorineural hearing loss in infancy and early childhood powerful hearing aids are necessary for auditory and speech development. Due to an increase of progressive hearing losses during the last 4 years, we discussed the possible causes and the probability of hearing aid induced progressions once more. Our study consists of two investigations: First, all patients since 1993 suffering from progressive hearing loss among all hearing impaired children in the department of Audiology and Pedaudiology of the ENT-Hospital of Cologne were taken into account. Second, all children of the Rheinische school for hearing impaired children were investigated. The evaluated data included the degree of severity and etiology of the hearing loss, the duration of the hearing aids use and the amplification of the hearing aid. 23 children were diagnosed with a progressive hearing loss in the period. We observed a massive increase over these years. No correlation between the duration of the hearing aid usage and the maximum output level was found. Furthermore, there was no difference between the causes of the hearing losses between the children of the school and the children with progressive hearing loss. At the moment, we do not see any reason to change our strategy for fitting hearing aids. The increase of progressive cases in the last 2 years should be the reason for further investigations in this field.