title: Prevalence and risk factors for mild and high-frequency bilateral sensorineural hearing loss at age 11 years old: a UK prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess prevalence and risk factors for mild/high-frequency bilateral sensorineural hearing loss within a UK population of children at age 11 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective birth cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeat hearing thresholds were measured in 5032 children, as part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) at age 7, 9, and 11 years. Pregnancy, birth, and early medical history were obtained prospectively through parental questionnaires and medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty children had mild and seven had high-frequency bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, giving a combined prevalence of 0.5% (95% CI 0.4-0.8%). These children were more likely than the rest of the study sample to have been admitted to hospital at 6-18 months (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.00-7.30). Parents of these children were more likely to have suspected a hearing problem when the children were 3 years old (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.05-5.60).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first UK prospective cohort study to investigate the prevalence of mild and high-frequency hearing loss. This study, which has the advantage of a large sample size and repeat hearing measures over a four year period, reports lower prevalence values than US cross-sectional studies.
authors: Centre for Hearing and Balance Studies, University of Bristol, UK. amanda.hall@bristol.ac.uk
authors: Amanda J
authors: AJ
authors: Hall
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Midgley
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: Steer
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Humphriss
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000367:Age Factors; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001844:Bone Conduction; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires