H H Niehaus1, A Olthoff, E Kruse. 1. Abt. für Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Unilateral hearing loss in children is frequently an incidental diagnosis, usually late. As in binaural hearing disorders, early detection is extremely important to protect the function of the "remaining ear" and thus ensure acquisition of speech. Prompt initial probatory treatment with a conventional hearing aid is necessary to take advantage of the sensitive phases of development and maturation of the auditory pathways. This allows lateralisation as well as a better discrimination, avoiding cocktail party and non-physiologic head shadow effects. PATIENTS: The study includes 32 children with a conventional hearing aid. The average age of diagnosis was 5.5 years. The children were initially treated with a conventional hearing aid. RESULTS: The etiology remained unknown in the majority of the cases. Twenty-seven of the children were observed over a longer period, averaging 2 years. Hearing aid acceptance was found to be 63% with a measurable hearing improvement in 59% of the patients, even in the presence of severe hearing disorders. In the majority of the cases, the etiology remained unknown. CONCLUSION: More knowledge about risk factors for unilateral hearing losses in children should improve the chances for early detection, making hearing aid supply at a younger age possible. This should happen firstly in a probatory manner and in cases with hearing aid acceptance and a measurable hearing improvement definitely.
BACKGROUND: Unilateral hearing loss in children is frequently an incidental diagnosis, usually late. As in binaural hearing disorders, early detection is extremely important to protect the function of the "remaining ear" and thus ensure acquisition of speech. Prompt initial probatory treatment with a conventional hearing aid is necessary to take advantage of the sensitive phases of development and maturation of the auditory pathways. This allows lateralisation as well as a better discrimination, avoiding cocktail party and non-physiologic head shadow effects. PATIENTS: The study includes 32 children with a conventional hearing aid. The average age of diagnosis was 5.5 years. The children were initially treated with a conventional hearing aid. RESULTS: The etiology remained unknown in the majority of the cases. Twenty-seven of the children were observed over a longer period, averaging 2 years. Hearing aid acceptance was found to be 63% with a measurable hearing improvement in 59% of the patients, even in the presence of severe hearing disorders. In the majority of the cases, the etiology remained unknown. CONCLUSION: More knowledge about risk factors for unilateral hearing losses in children should improve the chances for early detection, making hearing aid supply at a younger age possible. This should happen firstly in a probatory manner and in cases with hearing aid acceptance and a measurable hearing improvement definitely.