Abstract
To describe unilateral and bilateral asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss in children and its etiological, audiological and demographic characteristics. Retrospective cross-sectional study developed in the Seção de Implante Coclear of Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais, through the analysis of medical records. Data from 1152 patients were analyzed: 424 (37%) adolescents, adults or elderly, and 728 (63%) children, of whom 691 (95%) had bilateral symmetrical hearing loss, and 37 (5%) had unilateral hearing loss (n=10) or bilateral asymmetric (n=27) sensorineural hearing loss. The mean age at diagnosis of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss was 33.58±21.69 months, and for asymmetric bilateral it was 33.12±21.69 months, with a prevalence of 1.4% and 3.7%, respectively. The highest risk indicator for hearing loss for both groups was the family history of permanent deafness, which began in childhood. The majority of the relatives of children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss presented the highest low socioeconomic classification (50%), while children with bilateral asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss were also be subdivided into upper (37%) and lower (37%). We observed a greater occurrence of asymmetric bilateral sensorineural hearing loss compared to unilateral hearing loss, as well as the hereditary risk indicator, with a predominance of the deep ear and female preponderance in both groups. Although neonatal hearing screening provides early identification of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, the age at the audiological diagnosis is still above the recommended level. In addition, the majority of the children's family members presented a low level of income.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated in 2018 that hearing impairment affects about 466 million people worldwide (6.1% of the world population), and of this total, 34 million (7%) are children[1]
In the analysis of 37 children, we found that ten (27%) had unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, six (60%) females and four (40%) males, and the age at diagnosis ranged from eight to 40 months old, with an average of 33.58 ± 21.69 months old and a median of 30 months old
With regard to risk indicators for hearing impairments[17], we found that all children had at least one complication in their history, in both groups: group with Unilateral Hearing Loss (UHL) and group with Asymmetric Bilateral Hearing Loss (ABHL) (Table 1)
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated in 2018 that hearing impairment affects about 466 million people worldwide (6.1% of the world population), and of this total, 34 million (7%) are children[1]. With the advent of Neonatal Hearing Screening (NHS) and, the referral for early diagnosis, speech therapists are more frequently confronted in the clinical routine with unilateral and bilateral asymmetric hearing loss. They were formerly diagnosed later, in contrast to symmetrical bilateral hearing losses, in particular, of profound degree[3]. This fact is related to etiological factors, since according to the literature, 45% of the unilateral sensorioneural hearing loss cases are congenital[4]. Even light unilateral hearing loss, regardless of type, can cause adverse effects on the child’s development, for example, in the educational and behavioral fields[5]
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