Early Identification of Hearing Handicapped Children

Abstract

The efficiency of the high-risk register in identifying children with impaired hearing in Göteborg has been compared to other sources, i.e. well-baby clinics and parents. The pediatricians at the maternity hospitals refer about 350 high-risk infants each year for hearing assessment. During a ten year period 3,530 high-risk infants out of 57,172 born had their hearing investigated with respiration and observation audiometry. Only 30 (0.8 %) of them had hearing loss of varying degree. However, during the same period a total of 179 children were diagnosed as deaf or hard-of-hearing. Only 17 % of them were high-risk children, 28 % came from well-baby clinics and 24 % from other medical centers. 31 % came directly from the parents.

The cause of the hearing impairment was analysed both in the high-risk group and in the total group. Genetic factors were held responsible for impaired hearing in 54 %. Asphyxia and high levels of bili-rubinemia caused very few and mild cases of hearing loss. As a result of our experiences the high-risk criteria have been revised.