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Original Article

Is deafness a disease of poverty? The association between socio-economic deprivation and congenital hearing impairment

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Pages 123-125 | Published online: 07 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

An association between congenital hearing impairmentand deprivation has been suggested, but evidence is limited.We studied children born in Greater Glasgow,1985-94, with bilateral congenital hearing impairment.The children were divided into seven deprivation categoriesusing the Carstairs Deprivation Index. One hundredand twenty-four hearing-impaired children wereborn over the study period, an incidence of 1.18/1000 livebirths. There was a clear association between deprivationcategory and incidence, ranging from 0.47/1000 to1.72/1000. An association with deprivation was seen forchildren with a family history and perinatal problems(such as prematurity and low birth weight). No associationwas found for other aetiological groups such ascraniofacial syndromes or early postnatal infection.Deprivation had no effect on age of diagnosis or hearingaid provision. Deprivation is associated with congenitalhearing impairment, due to more prematurity and lowbirth weight in deprived families, and the fact that familieswith many hearing-impaired members are economicallydisadvantaged. There should be a strong emphasison the needs of the socio-economically disadvantagedwhen planning services for hearing-impaired children.

Sumario

Se ha sugerido la asociación entre hipoacusia congénita yprivación socio-económica, pero las evidencias son limitadas.Estudiamos a los niños nacidos en el área metropolitanade Glasgow de 1985-94, con hipoacusia bilateralcongénita. Fueron divididos en siete niveles socioeconómicosutilizando el índice Carstairs de Privación.Durante el tiempo de este estudio nacieron 124 niñoscon hipoacusia, que es un índice de 1.18/1000 nacidosvivos. Hubo una clara asociación entre el nivel socioeconómicoy la incidencia que varió del 0.47/1000 al1.72/1000. Se observó una asociación entre privación yniños con historia familiar y problemas perinatales(como prematurez y bajo peso al nacimiento). No seencontró asociación en otros grupos etiológicos comosíndromes craneofaciales o infección postnatal temprana.La privación no tiene efecto en la edad de diagnóstico oen la provisión de auxiliares auditivos. La privación seasocia con hipoacusia congénita en las familias que poresa condición presentan más casos de prematurez y bajopeso al nacer, además de que las familias que tienenvarios hipoacúsicos están económicamente en desventaja.Debe hacerse un fuerte énfasis en las necesidades dequienes están en desventaja socio-económica cuando seplaneen servicios para los niños hipoacúsicos.

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