Hearing and otologic disorders in children with Down syndrome.

Hearing impairment and otologic problems have been reported to be prevalent among individuals with Down syndrome. This study was designed to determine whether children with Down syndrome have a higher prevalence of auditory abnormalities than do children with other forms of mental retardation. Hearing, impedance, and otoscopic examinations were performed on 30 children with Down syndrome and 30 children without Down syndrome matched for CA and IQ. Results indicated that the children with Down syndrome had a significantly higher prevalence of hearing impairment and otologic disorders.