Childhood deafness in Portugal--aetiological factors and diagnosis of hearing loss.

The most common identified causes of hearing impairment in children are described based on the analysis of 1024 cases observed for a period of 4.5 years (1985-1989) at the ENT Department of the University of Lisbon. The values of mean ages of suspicion and diagnosis are indirectly used to assess the performance of the health care system concerning diagnosis of childhood deafness. Improvement of diagnostic age has been very important over the last years, due in part to an enormous increase in information and motivation of general practitioners and pediatricians which has been organized by the ENT Department of the University of Lisbon. Finally, the authors highlight the otorhinolaryngologist's important role in promoting the involvement of the different specialties for early diagnosis, correct management and prevention of childhood deafness.