Sensorineural hearing loss in Nigerian children with sickle cell disease.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence and pattern of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in Nigerian children with sickle cell disease (SCD).


METHODS
Fifty-two children with SCD were assessed. Otologic examination and audiometric tests were performed. There were 36 males and 16 females. Their age ranged from 6 to 19 years.


RESULTS
Seven children had hearing impairment. After hemoglobin categorization, all the SCD patients were found to belong to the homozygous (HbSS) group. There were no HbSC nor other variants detected. Prevalence of SNHL was 13.4% in these patients but the general population prevalence rate found in a control group was 6.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
SCD has many organ manifestations and complication among which is sensorineural hearing loss. Regular audiologic assessment, counselling and rehabilitation of these patients with hearing aids are recommended.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
Nnennia
N
Mgbor
Ifeoma
I
Emodi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001299:Audiometry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000453:epidemiology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence