Epidemiology of Permanent Childhood Hearing Loss in Glasgow, 1985–1994

Abstract

This retrospective study was undertaken to document the epidemiology of permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI) in Glasgow and to make some assessment of the current practice to identify these children before universal neonatal hearing screening (UNHS) is implemented. Subjects were those with bilateral permanent hearing impairments of at least 40 dB in the better hearing ear, born between 1985 and 1994, in Greater Glasgow. The subjects were identified and data extracted from the Educational Audiology database. The case records at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children were also reviewed to identify possible aetiology groups. The prevalence rate of all permanent hearing impairments was 1.23 per thousand live births. Eleven percent of all hearing impairments were acquired or progressive. There was no significant effect of sex on aetiology (X2 = 6.509, df = 6, p, = 1), age at identification of hearing impairment and hearing aid provision (Kruskal Wallis, p = 0.484 and 0.782 respectively). For those identified as congenitally hearing impaired, the median ages at diagnosis of hearing impairment and hearing aid provision were 18 months and 31 months respectively. Age at diagnosis of hearing impairment and hearing aid provision were unaffected by aetiology of hearing impairment (Kruskal Wallis, p = 0.782 and p = 0.484 respectively). The prevalence rate of PCHI and the ages at identification and intervention in Glasgow are typical of the rest of the UK. Audiological surveillance measures are falling well below the standard of care expected today and the introduction of UNHS is likely to improve outcomes as long as the additional health and educational resources are in place to deal with the earlier identification of these children.

Bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHAs) for people who are bilaterally deaf: a systematic review and economic evaluation

“…Similar prevalence rates for hearing loss were shown by MacAndie and colleagues 19 in a retrospective study in Greater Glasgow (UK). The study focused on children born between 1985 and 1994 who were identified from the Educational Audiology database.…”

“…Using the studies of the prevalence of hearing loss and population estimates for England and Wales, 16,17,19,22,23 it is possible to provide a provisional estimate of the burden of bilateral hearing loss in England and Wales ( Table 3). These estimates should be interpreted with caution owing to the differences in the nature of the studies and the classifications of hearing loss used.…”

“…It was evident that the majority of impairments among children would be congenital in origin, accounting for hearing impairment in around 750-775 children per annual birth cohort in England and Wales. 16,19 Most of these congenital hearing impairments are thought to be permanent sensorineural (approximately 730 per annual birth cohort). 16 It was estimated that among adults in England and Wales there would be around 1.6 million people aged 17-80 years with a hearing loss of ≥ 45 dB, with around a quarter of these having a loss of …”

Screening for delayed-onset hearing loss in preschool children who previously passed the newborn hearing screening

“…A study conducted in the United Kingdom found the prevalence of all hearing loss of a hearing level (HL) > 40 dB to increase from 1.06/ 1000 at birth to up to 1.65/1000 (or even 2.05/1000; adjusted value) at the age of 9 years [9]. However, data reported on the incidence of permanent hearing loss in children are contradictory [10][11][12][13]. With regard to children who have initially passed the newborn hearing screening, there are no studies with reliable numbers on the incidence of delayed-onset hearing loss in preschool age children or that interpret findings from hearing screening for delayed-onset hearing loss in preschool children.…”

Evaluation of the Austrian Newborn Hearing Screening Program

“…15% der Hörstörungen in unserer Gesamtstichprobe postnatal sein. Ein ähnlicher Wert wurde wiederholt aus den Daten großer Untersuchungen geschätzt [27,28].…”