title: Initiators in processes leading to hearing loss identification in Finnish children.
abstract: The objective was to examine processes leading to the diagnosis of hearing loss in children. The subjects were 328 children (hearing loss >30 dB HL) fitted with hearing aids in Helsinki University Central Hospital. The risk factor initiated hearing loss detection in 31%, whereas parental suspicion accounted for 26% and hearing screening at the well-baby clinics for 20% of the subjects. Parents were foremost to suspect hearing loss at the age spoken language normally emerges (1.5-3.4 years). Screening was equally effective irrespective of the severity of hearing loss. Parents with misgivings of hearing impairment in their child should have compliant access to audiological units.
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. Timo.Marttila@hus.fi
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Marttila
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Karikoski
mesh_terms: D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires