Briggs Lauren, Davidson Lisa, Lieu Judith E C
Program of Audiology and Communication Sciences and the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2011 Jul;120(7):448-54. doi: 10.1177/000348941112000705.
Although children with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) are at risk for educational difficulties and behavioral problems, the research on treatment outcomes is limited. Previous studies suggested that children with UHL would benefit from frequency-modulated assistive devices only. The objective of this study was to examine whether children with UHL would benefit from using a conventional hearing aid in the poorer-hearing ear.
Eight children, 7 to 12 years of age, with mild to moderately severe UHL and their parents and teachers participated in this study. The participants were fitted with digital hearing aids by use of pediatric prescriptive targets. The primary outcome measures were speech perception tests in quiet and noise and subjective assessments from participants, parents, and teachers, administered before hearing aid fitting and after 3 months of hearing aid use.
The group average speech perception scores showed no significant aided benefit or detriment in any of the conditions tested. However, subjective assessments showed large significant aided benefits at home and school according to the children and their parents, and in quality of life as reported by the children with UHL.
Overall, the results suggest that a hearing aid trial should be considered for children with mild to moderately severe UHL, with individual monitoring for benefit.
尽管单侧听力损失（UHL）儿童有出现教育困难和行为问题的风险，但关于治疗效果的研究有限。先前的研究表明，UHL儿童仅会从调频辅助设备中受益。本研究的目的是检验UHL儿童使用听力较差耳的传统助听器是否会受益。
八名7至12岁、患有轻度至中度重度UHL的儿童及其父母和教师参与了本研究。通过使用儿科处方目标为参与者佩戴数字助听器。主要结局指标为在安静和嘈杂环境下的言语感知测试，以及在佩戴助听器前和使用助听器3个月后参与者、父母和教师的主观评估。
在任何测试条件下，组平均言语感知分数均未显示出显著的助听益处或损害。然而，主观评估显示，根据儿童及其父母的反馈，在家中和学校有显著的助听益处，且UHL儿童报告生活质量也有显著改善。
总体而言，结果表明对于轻度至中度重度UHL儿童应考虑进行助听器试验，并进行个体获益监测。
