Classification of childhood hearing impairment: implications for rehabilitation in developing countries

Disability and Rehabilitation
B O Olusanya

Abstract

To ascertain the rehabilitation needs of hearing impaired school entrants in developing countries based on current criteria for evaluating classification of childhood hearing impairment. The profile of hearing impairment was examined in 50 children from eight randomly selected mainstream schools, based on findings from medical history, physical examination, otoscopy, pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry. The hearing thresholds across frequencies 0.25 - 8.0 kHz were analysed. The results were compared with conventional pure-tone averages (0.5 - 4.0 kHz) and WHO's criteria/threshold for disabling hearing impairment. Seventeen (94.4%) of the 18 children with conductive hearing loss based on conventional audiometry had high-frequency hearing loss. Similarly, 10 children (83.3%) of the 12 children with sensorineural hearing loss and 19 children (95%) of the 20 children with mixed hearing loss had high-frequency hearing loss. Forty-six hearing impaired children (92%): comprising those with permanent unilateral hearing loss > 30 dBHL, permanent hearing loss would have been missed by WHO criteria. Conventional school audiometry and WHO criteria for disabling hearing impairment are unlikely to detect the full spectrum of hearing disabi...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1978·The Laryngoscope·F E LucenteP M Som
Aug 1, 1990·Archives of Disease in Childhood·P M WatkinS Laoide
Sep 1, 1987·Early Human Development·L S De VriesL M Dubowitz
Feb 1, 1986·The Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders·J M DavisR A Bentler
Nov 1, 1981·British Journal of Audiology·L Fisch
Mar 1, 1980·Child: Care, Health and Development·W D Keller, R S Bundy
Feb 1, 1996·Ear and Hearing·L L HunterG S Giebink
May 21, 1998·Lancet·F El BakriA S Duncombe
Jan 26, 2000·American Journal of Audiology·R S Haggard, M A Primus
Oct 18, 2000·International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology·B O OlusanyaG T Ijaduola
Mar 6, 2003·Hearing Research·Douglas E H Hartley, David R Moore
Jun 14, 2003·Annals of Tropical Paediatrics·B O Olusanya

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 28, 2013·BMC Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders·Ada Hiu Chong Lo, Bradley McPherson
Feb 15, 2013·Cochlear Implants International·Jareen Meinzen-DerrDaniel I Choo
Aug 3, 2013·International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology·Ramon Gordon JensenPreben Homøe
Sep 23, 2008·The Laryngoscope·Bolajoko O OlusanyaDe Wet Swanepoel
May 2, 2017·Otolaryngology--head and Neck Surgery : Official Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery·Lye-Yeng WongJames E Saunders

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Auditory Perception

Auditory perception is the ability to receive and interpret information attained by the ears. Here is the latest research on factors and underlying mechanisms that influence auditory perception.