title: Hearing: a pediatricians approach.
abstract: Hearing plays a fundamental role in a child's global development; however, some professionals do not realize how much they may contribute to mitigate the sequelae caused by hearing impairment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to collect data on pediatricians approaches in a city in the country side of Santa Catarina State, regarding the early detection of hearing impairment and identify the methodology utilized for its diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Historical Cohort with Cross-Sectional Cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of questionnaires with nine multiple choice questions and ten open questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  62% reported that their training in hearing disorders happened during their medical course; high risk patients are referred to the otorhinolaryngologist (92%); 83% said they are aware of the evaluation techniques; 55% stated they were not aware of the different types of hearing loss; only 25% reported they knew about the levels of hearing loss and 42% of the interviewees believe a child may have fruitful use of a hearing aid before six months of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is the need of more information about the importance of early diagnosis, as well as the methods used for this end.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná, Brazil. angela@cliob.med.br
authors.forename: Angela Maria Fontana
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zocoli
authors.forename: Fabiana Coelho
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Riechel
authors.forename: Bianca Simone
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Zeigelboim
authors.forename: Jair Mendes
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires