Do audiologic characteristics predict outcomes in children with unilateral hearing loss?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether audiologic characteristics of unilateral hearing loss in children were associated with language, cognitive, or achievement scores.


METHODS
Case-control study


METHODS
Pediatric otolaryngology ambulatory practice


METHODS
Cases (n = 109) were children aged 6 to 12 years with permanent unilateral hearing loss; controls (n = 95) were siblings with normal bilateral hearing.


METHODS
Audiologic characteristics measured included side and severity of hearing loss and word recognition scores in quiet and in noise.


METHODS
Cognitive abilities were measured using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence; reading, math, and writing achievement was measured with the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test - Second Edition - Abbreviated; and oral language skills were measured with the Oral Written and Language Scales.


RESULTS
Children with unilateral hearing loss had worse verbal cognitive and oral language scores than children with normal hearing, but there were no differences in achievement scores. Children with profound unilateral hearing loss tended to have worse cognitive scores and had significantly lower oral language scores. Higher word recognition scores of the normal hearing ear in quiet were associated with higher cognitive, oral language, and reading achievement scores. Higher word recognition scores in noise were slightly correlated with higher oral language scores.


CONCLUSIONS
As expected, children with unilateral hearing loss had worse language scores than their siblings with normal hearing, with trends toward worse cognitive scores. Children with profound unilateral hearing loss tended to have worse outcomes than children with normal hearing or less severe unilateral loss. However, there were no differences in outcomes between children with right or left unilateral hearing loss.
*Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine; and †St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.
Judith E C
JE
Lieu
Roanne K
RK
Karzon
Banan
B
Ead
Nancy
N
Tye-Murray
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*