Perceptions of pediatric primary care physicians on congenital hearing loss and cochlear implantation.
OBJECTIVE
The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing recommends that all newborns undergo hearing screening during their hospital birth admission or before one month of age. Also, infants with certain risk factors should receive audiologic monitoring every six months until three years of age. Initial treatment of sensorineural hearing loss involves the use of properly fitted binaural hearing aids with cochlear implantation indicated for use in children ages twelve months and older that have derived limited benefit from amplification. Cochlear implantation before two years of age is associated with improved language acquisition. Pediatric primary care physicians are crucial to the diagnosis and treatment of congenital hearing loss. This study provides a baseline assessment of Mississippi pediatric primary care physicians' understanding of the risk factors, diagnosis, treatment options, and role of cochlear implantation with regard to congenital hearing loss.


METHODS
A single page questionnaire consisting of sixteen questions about newborn hearing loss and cochlear implantation was mailed to all active members of the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians and the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.


RESULTS
Of the 501 surveys mailed out, 160 surveys were returned completed for a resultant 32% response rate. Out of the 160 physicians returning the questionnaire, 50 were general pediatricians, 89 were family practitioners, and 21 were physicians who did not practice primary care medicine for pediatric patients. The majority of questions were answered correctly by all groups. In most instances, there was a significant statistical difference with the pediatrician group having more correct responses as compared to the family practitioner group.


CONCLUSIONS
The data presented demonstrate that primary care providers for children within the state of Mississippi are generally knowledgeable about the diagnosis and treatment of congenital hearing loss. Aspects of newborn hearing loss diagnosis and treatment to emphasize in future education efforts include: understanding the necessity of objective screening measures for the diagnosis of hearing loss, the need for hearing aid intervention by six months of age, and the role of early cochlear implantation in the mainstreaming of prelinguistically deaf children.
Carron
Jeffrey D
JD
Dept. of Otolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Medicine, JacksonS 39216, USA.
Moore
Robert B
RB
Dhaliwal
Ajeet S
AS
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003625:Data Collection; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008922:Mississippi; D010465:Perception; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires