[Descriptive cross-sectional study of hearing-disabled children at the National Institute for Education of the Deaf in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil].
In Brazil, research is scarce on multiple disabilities and hearing disability in particular. Researchers began a pioneering study in 1992, evaluating students from public special education programs, currently focused on hearing disability. The authors evaluated 232 students ranging from 1 to 39 years of age (mean 10.9 years), with male gender prevailing. Consanguinity was present in 7.6% and a family history of deafness in 19%. Gestational complications were recorded in 33% of cases. Normal labor occurred in 72%, and delivery at term in 75%. Neonatal complications were present in 35% of the sample. Environmental causes accounted for 56% of the sample, genetic causes 20.7%, and the remaining 20.7% were classified as idiopathic. The current findings corroborate those from the literature. We believe that this study can spark greater concern for the hearing-disabled and that through increased knowledge of this group's characteristics it may foster strategies to facilitate interaction with society as a whole.
Silva
Eduardo Jorge Custódio da
EJ
Instituto Fernandes Figueira, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Eduardo Guinle 55, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 2220-090, Brazil. eduardo.jorge@openlink.com.br
Llerena
Juan Clinton
JC
Cardoso
Maria Helena Cabral de Almeida
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003638:Deafness / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D060345:Education of Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors