Marttila T I, Karikoski J O
Department of Audiology, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2005 Dec;262(12):975-8. doi: 10.1007/s00405-005-0945-y. Epub 2005 Sep 13.
The objective was to examine processes leading to the diagnosis of hearing loss in children. The subjects were 328 children (hearing loss >30 dB HL) fitted with hearing aids in Helsinki University Central Hospital. The risk factor initiated hearing loss detection in 31%, whereas parental suspicion accounted for 26% and hearing screening at the well-baby clinics for 20% of the subjects. Parents were foremost to suspect hearing loss at the age spoken language normally emerges (1.5-3.4 years). Screening was equally effective irrespective of the severity of hearing loss. Parents with misgivings of hearing impairment in their child should have compliant access to audiological units.
