[Might the cooperation with neuropediatricians improve the treatment of hearing impaired children: retrospective analysis of a small group of children with hearing aids].
OBJECTIVE
Present analysis was performed to test the hypothesis, that cooperation with neuropediatricians might improve the treatment of hearing impaired children.


METHODS
In a retrospective study 31 children (21 females, 10 males) with impaired sensorineural hearing (27 binaural, 4 monaural) and hearing aids were analyzed: - 12 children with profound and severe hearing loss (HL), median diagnostic age (mda): 8 months; - 15 children with moderate and mild HL, mda: 58 months and - 4 children with monaural HL, mda: 29 months. Neuropediatric examination included physical examination as well as psychometric testing.


RESULTS
1. Despite various medical efforts hearing impaired children are diagnosed very late in Germany. 2. About 65 % of the children exhibited neurodevelopmental deficits; about 25 % showed profound disabilities: 7 children with an IQ < 80, 1 child with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disease) and 1 child with cerebral seizures. Analysis indicates that especially in children with developmental disabilities and only mild/ moderate hearing impairment the risk for additional neuropediatric diseases is increased.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study a high portion of hearing impaired children exhibited additional neuropediatric diseases. Thus the regular cooperation with a neuropediatrician might be helpful for diagnosis and further treatment. The risk for additional neuropediatric disabilities might be enhanced especially in those children, which have been diagnosed late or in cases with mild/moderate hearing impairment and profound developmental disabilities.
Ullrich
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HNO-Arzt, Kinderarzt, Wedemark, Germany.
D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications; D001299:Audiometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors