Hearing Loss In Adolescents Research Articles

Ear diseases among secondary school students in Xi'an, China: The role of portable audio device use, insomnia and academic stress

BackgroundHearing impairment negatively impacts students' development of academic, language and social skills. Even minimal unilateral hearing loss can hinder educational performance. We investigated the prevalence of ear diseases among secondary school students in the city of Xi'an, China in order to provide a foundation for evidence-based hearing healthcare.MethodsA stratified random sampling survey was conducted in 29 secondary schools. Demographics and medical histories were collected, and otologic examinations were performed. Questionnaires were administered to assess insomnia, academic stress and use of portable audio devices. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with hearing impairment, and the association of sensorineural hearing loss with insomnia, academic stress and the use of portable audio devices was analyzed with the chi-square test.ResultsThe percentage of students with some form of ear disease was 3.32%. External ear disease, middle ear disease and sensorineural hearing loss occurred in 1.21%, 0.64% and 1.47% of the students, respectively. Boys had a relatively higher prevalence of ear disease than girls. According to our survey, the prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss increased significantly among the students with insomnia and extended use of portable audio devices, but not among those with elevated levels of academic stress. Hearing aids and surgical treatment were needed in 1.47% and 0.89% of the students, respectively.ConclusionsThere is a high prevalence of ear disease among secondary school students, and this should be given more attention. Insomnia and the excessive use of portable audio devices may be related to adolescent sensorineural hearing loss. It is important to establish and comply with an evidence-based preventive strategy.

Hearing loss in adolescents has increased in a decade

Hearing loss in adolescents has increased in a decade

Hearing Loss in Adolescents Is on the Rise

Hearing loss in school-age children can affect learning, speech perception, social skill development, and self-image. To examine hearing-loss

Identifying Hearing Loss By Means Of Iridology

Isolated reports of hearing loss presenting as markings on the iris exist, but to date the effectiveness of iridology to identify hearing loss has not been investigated. This study therefore aimed to determine the efficacy of iridological analysis in the identification of moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss in adolescents. A controlled trial was conducted with an iridologist, blind to the actual hearing status of participants, analyzing the irises of participants with and without hearing loss. Fifty hearing impaired and fifty normal hearing subjects, between the ages of 15 and 19 years, controlled for gender, participated in the study. An experienced iridologist analyzed the randomised set of participants' irises. A 70% correct identification of hearing status was obtained by iridological analyses with a false negative rate of 41% compared to a 19% false positive rate. The respective sensitivity and specificity rates therefore came to 59% and 81%. Iridological analysis of hearing status indicated a statistically significant relationship to actual hearing status (P < 0.05). Although statistically significant sensitivity and specificity rates for identifying hearing loss by iridology were not comparable to those of traditional audiological screening procedures.

Comparison of Audiometric Screening Criteria for the Identification of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Adolescents

To ascertain whether current pure-tone school hearing screening criteria used across the United States are adequate for the early identification of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in adolescents. School-based pure-tone hearing screening protocols were collected, reviewed, and consolidated from 46 state agencies. A retrospective categorical analysis of air-conduction audiometric thresholds from a computerized database of 9th-grade (n = 376) and 12th-grade (n = 265) students from a suburban high school was conducted. The database analysis was designed to determine whether each screening protocol would identify high-frequency notched audiometric configurations suggestive of NIHL when using the noise notch criteria described by A. S. Niskar et al. (2001). All of the school-based hearing screening criteria identified significantly (p <or= .05) fewer students with a high-frequency notch (HFN) than the noise notch protocol regardless of screening decibel level specified. Over half of the school-based hearing screening protocols used in the United States will identify only 22% of the students with an HFN and consequently would fail to detect a potential NIHL. Currently implemented school-based hearing screening guidelines are nonstandardized and inadequate for the early identification of NIHL. This denies the majority of students the opportunity to receive early intervention and to prevent further progression of NIHL. It is necessary to identify, standardize, and implement effective and efficient screening or monitoring programs for the early detection and prevention of NIHL in adolescents.

Language Development and Mild-to-Moderate Hearing Loss: Does Language Normalize With Age?

The authors' purpose was to explore the nature of the link between hearing loss (HL) and language impairment in adolescents with mild-to-moderate hearing loss (MMHL). Does language performance (generally or in certain areas) normalize at adolescence? The language skills of 19 French-speaking adolescents (ages 11-15) with moderate or mild sensorineural HL were evaluated via a series of tests assessing oral and written language, including an experimental probe, and compared with typically developing adolescents and adolescents with specific language impairment (SLI). Language disorders were found, notably in the areas of phonology and grammar, in more than half the adolescents with MMHL; affected domains and error patterns were identical to those found in adolescents with SLI. Language scores of the adolescents with MMHL were significantly linked with degree of HL, a correlation not generally found in studies of children with MMHL. Normalization of language performance does not generalize at adolescence in the context of MMHL. The fact that an effect of the severity of HL was found only after childhood might be because linguistic development is basically complete at adolescence. Prior to this time, this effect could be obscured by developmental rhythms that vary from child to child.

The prevalence of hearing loss in children and adolescents with cancer

SummaryThe treatment of cancer in children has several side effects, including ototoxicity. Inner ear structures may be affected and hearing loss may ensue. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of hearing loss in patients with cancer using the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the Pediatric Oncology Group Toxicity (POGT), and the Bilateral Hearing Loss (PAB) criteria. Study design: a prospective study. Material and Methods: 94 patients admitted between 2003 and 2004 were analyzed. Visual inspection of the external auditory meatus and an audiologic evaluation were done. Descriptive statistics was used to characterize the sample, and Kappa statistics was used to investigate concordance of hearing loss in the three types of classification. Results: The prevalence of hearing loss was 42.5% using ASHA, 40.4% using POGT, and 12.8% using PAB. The concordance of hearing loss was weak for POGT and PAB (k=0.36) and for PAB and ASHA (k=0.33). The concordance between ASHA and POGT was almost perfect (k=0.96). Conclusions: Hearing loss is an important side effect of the treatment of cancer in children. Periodic audiology monitoring is recommended to detect early hearing loss and to revise the treatment if necessary. Adoption of a classification system that detects mild hearing loss (ASHA) is recommended.

&lt;p&gt;Study of the hearing loss in children and adolescents, comparing the periods of 1990-1994 and 1994-2000&lt;/p&gt;

Introduction: In 1994, a study was performed with 200 children and adolescents suffering from hearing loss. It concluded that the diagnostic confirmation of hearing loss within 2 years of age occurred in just 13% of the cases, although 56% were suspected in that phase. The loss of time of over 2 years between suspicion and confirmation of hearing loss occurred in 42% of the cases.&#x0D; Objectives: The comparison of the main hearing loss etiologies–genetic cause, consanguinity, congenital rubella, meningitis, perinatal events and unknown causes – in children and adolescents in the periods of 1990-1994 and 1994-2000; comparison of incidence, in males and females, for each etiology and among the others; comparison of age at the first consultation, for each and among them; and the investigation as to whether the time between suspicion and diagnosis of hearing loss was different for each etiology and among the others.&#x0D; Methods: During the period of 1990-2000, of the 519 children and adolescents with hearing loss, 442 individuals were selected, in the two moments of the study: 1990-1994 and 1994-2000. The variables used were: sex, age at first consultation, suspected etiology and time between suspicion and confirmation of hearing loss.&#x0D; Results: Congenital rubella, genetic and perinatal causes, meningitis, consanguinity and unknown causes were responsible for over 80% of all etiologies, in both periods. There were no differences between the sexes in the periods studied. There was no relation among age, sex and etiology. Among the etiologies studied, there were no differences in the lengths of times between suspicion and confirmation of hearing loss, in each period separately. The comparative study showed that congenital rubella, genetic and unknown causes took longer times between suspicion and confirmation of hearing loss, for the period of 1990-1994, as compared with 1994-2000.&#x0D; Conclusions: Congenital rubella remains as an important etiology, as well post-meningitis deafness. Age at first consultation did not show relationship to the hearing loss etiology nor to sex. Independently of whether the etiology being pre-natal, perinatal or postnatal, congenital or acquired, the length of time between suspicion and confirmation of hearing loss did not differ between the periods studied, separately.&#x0D; Published courtesy of: Int J Pediatr Otolaryngol. 2005; 69 (6): 829-838

Study of the hearing loss in children and adolescents, comparing the periods of 1990–1994 and 1994–2000

In 1994, a study was performed with 200 children and adolescents suffering from hearing loss. It concluded that the diagnostic confirmation of hearing loss within 2 years of age occurred in just 13% of the cases, although 56% were suspected in that phase. The loss of time of over 2 years between suspicion and confirmation of hearing loss occurred in 42% of the cases. The comparison of the main hearing loss etiologies-genetic cause, consanguinity, congenital rubella, meningitis, perinatal events and unknown causes-in children and adolescents in the periods of 1990-1994 and 1994-2000; comparison of incidence, in males and females, for each etiology and among the others; comparison of age at the first consultation, for each and among them; and the investigation as to whether the time between suspicion and diagnosis of hearing loss was different for each etiology and among the others. During the period of 1990-2000, of the 519 children and adolescents with hearing loss, 442 individuals were selected, in the two moments of the study: 1990-1994 and 1994-2000. The variables used were: sex, age at first consultation, suspected etiology and time between suspicion and confirmation of hearing loss. Congenital rubella, genetic and perinatal causes, meningitis, consanguinity and unknown causes were responsible for over 80% of all etiologies, in both periods. There were no differences between the sexes in the periods studied. There was no relation among age, sex and etiology. Among the etiologies studied, there were no differences in the lengths of times between suspicion and confirmation of hearing loss, in each period separately. The comparative study showed that congenital rubella, genetic and unknown causes took longer times between suspicion and confirmation of hearing loss, for the period of 1990-1994, as compared with 1994-2000. Congenital rubella remains as an important etiology, as well post-meningitis deafness. Age at first consultation did not show relationship to the hearing loss etiology nor to sex. Independently of whether the etiology being pre-natal, perinatal or post-natal, congenital or acquired, the length of time between suspicion and confirmation of hearing loss did not differ between the periods studied, separately.

Hearing loss and tinnitus in adolescents and young adults

Little attention has been paid to hearing abilities and the effects of noise on the normal adolescent and young adult population. A series of studies will be presented on the prevalence of hearing loss and reported effects of hearing loss and tinnitus in adolescents and young adults from different cultural backgrounds. Adolescents and young adults from different backgrounds may tend to seek or avoid various noise environments that could be detrimental to their hearing and cause tinnitus. Attitudes and exposures to noise environments were evaluated to see if these may be correlated with their hearing losses and/or tinnitus. In addition, these adolescent and young adult subjects reported how often they used hearing protection in various noise environments. Finally, the issues of quality of life and the need for hearing conservation programs with these populations will be presented.

Screening for Hearing Loss in Adolescents

Three-hundred-forty-two adolescents between the ages of 10–20 years were administered an auditory screening protocol consisting of a: (a) noise history questionnaire, (b) otoscopic inspection, (c) tympanometry, and (d) pure-tone screening at 25 dB HL at 1000, 2000, 4000, and 6000 Hz. Results of this screening protocol suggest a high level of admitted noise exposure in the adolescent population. Overall failure rate was 25%. Pure-tone failure rate was 7% for the frequencies of 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, increasing to 17% when 6000 Hz was added. Significant correlations were found between firearm use and hearing loss at 6000 Hz. Recommendations for screening the adolescent population are made, and suggestions for educational intervention on the effects of firearm usage are provided.

Noise-induced hearing loss in children and adolescents.

Occupational noise exposure remains the most commonly identified cause of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in the general population. The issue of NIHL in children has received scant attention. Parents and public policy makers have expressed increasing concern about hearing risks to children and adolescents posed by noise sources such as: rock music, ‘‘boom’’ cars, loud toys, recreational vehicles, and personal cassette players. This report focuses on 114 children and adolescents (ages 19 and under; 90.3% males) who were diagnosed as having probable NIHL on the basis of clinical history and audiometric configuration. Forty-two children had unilateral losses, while 72 had sensorineural losses of varying degree in the contralateral ear. The mean age of referral for evaluation was 12.7 yr (range 1.2 to 19.8 yr, s.d. 4.21 yr), although 26% of the children were age 10 or younger at the time of referral. Inherent weaknesses of currently available clinical studies of NIHL in nonoccupational settings include imprecision in diagnosis and lack of quantification in characterizing the nature and duration of exposure. The occurrence of irreversible but potentially preventable hearing loss among a preschool and school-age sample should prompt improved observational and interventional, prospective longitudinal studies of NIHL in children and adolescents. Advances in molecular medicine as related to hearing loss, incorporated into such studies, could enhance understanding of individual variation in susceptibility to hearing damage from noise associated with age, gender, racial or ethnic status, and genetic make-up. Psychosocial measures should address the issue of improving compliance in the utilization of ear protectors among the younger age group.