title: Visual function and ocular status of children with hearing impairment in Oman: a case series.
abstract: Visual functions of children with hearing disability were evaluated in a school of Muscat, Oman in 2006. Two hundred and twenty-three children were tested for near vision, distant vision, contrast sensitivity, color vision, field of vision, motion perception and crowding. Profound and severe hearing loss was noted in 161 and 63 students respectively. Thirty-five (81%) students with refractive error were using spectacles. Color vision and field of vision was defective in one student each. In 286 (64.1%) eyes, contrast sensitivity was defective. Abnormal contrast sensitivity was not associated with the severity of hearing loss [RR = 1.04 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.29)]. Children with hearing impairment should be assessed for visual functions. Refractive error and defect in contrast sensitivity were unusually high among these children. In addition to visual aids, we recommend environmental changes to improve illumination and contrast to improve the quality of life of such children with double disability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Non-communicable Diseases Control, Directorate General of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Oman. rajshpp@omantel.net.om
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khandekar
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Fahdi
authors.forename: Bushra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al Jabri
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Harby
authors.forename: Talat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abdulamgeed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015351:Vision Screening; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities