Delayed‐Onset Hearing Loss: Prevalence in Early School‐Aged Children

Abstract

Objectives: (1) Demonstrate the prevalence rate of delayed-onset hearing loss in the early school-aged population for the academic year 2010-2011 in a single county of southeastern Michigan, and the state at large. (2) Describe the statewide hearing screening program used in the above population. Methods: Audiometric records of the Oakland County Health Department and the Michigan Department of Community Health for children participating in school-based hearing screening during academic year 2010-2011 were identified. Cross-sectional review of school-based hearing screening results of children in kindergarten, first, second, and fourth grades was performed. Failures were identified and audiograms analyzed confirming hearing loss type. In individuals with sensorineural loss, state newborn screening registries were queried to determine those with true delayed-onset. Demographics and degree of hearing loss on these individuals were collected. Prevalence using official state-level enrollment and census data was calculated. Results: A total of 46,501 children (~83% of grade-based cohort) participated in school-based hearing screening. Of the 1701 children who failed screening pure tone audiometry, 119 were found to have delayed-onset sensorineural or mixed hearing loss. Male predominance was slight (53%), and 46% had bilateral losses. Newborn hearing screening occurred in the first week of life in the majority (85%). A prevalence of 1.7 to 2.1 out of 1000 in Oakland County was calculated. Delayed-onset hearing loss is projected to have affected between 1325 and 1347 children in this grade cohort statewide during the study period. Conclusions: Delayed-onset hearing loss remains a not infrequent condition. School-aged hearing screening programs offer a valid mechanism to identify children with this condition.