Deafness in Children

Question 1

Deafness Hearing Loss Range: Cannot hear whispers, speech, shouting, sounds that would be painful

Answer 1

• 25-39 Db HL
• 40-69 dB HL
• 70-94 dB HL
• > 95 dB HL

Question 2

Deafness Types of Hearing Loss

Answer 2

• Conductive hearing loss: 4% of school children, almost all cases due to glue ear
• Sensorineural hearing loss: affects 0.3% of all school children. Sounds are diminished and distorted
• Mixed
• Majority of permanent childhood hearing loss is sesorineural

Question 3

Deafness RFs

Answer 3

• FHx
• Congenital infection
• Ototoxic medications
• Low birth weight prematurity…

Question 4

Deafness Aetiology

Answer 4

• Genetic cause
• Postnatal causes: childhood infections e.g. meningitis, encephalitis, usually mumps or measles
• Perinatal: prematurity, low birth weight, sepsis
• Intrauterine: e.g. congenital infection, toxins, usually rubella or CMV
• Unknown cause

Question 5

Deafness Presentation

Answer 5

• Developmental delay
• Talking pudgy, watching tv loudly
• Signs of of chronic infection e.g. scarring

Question 6

Deafness Differentials

Answer 6

• Other causes of developmental delay
• Otitis media, foreign body, wax
• Aetiology of sensorineural may remain unclear

Question 7

Deafness Investigations

Answer 7

• Audiometry
• Tympanometry
• MRI/CT

Question 8

Deafness Management

Answer 8

• Family support
• Communication support
• Hearing aids, radio aids, cochlear implants, NSL
• Treat conductive hearing loss as for OME
• Offer hearing aids to children with Down’s syndrome