Prevalence of Hearing Loss Among Children 6 to 19 Years of Age

Abstract

Context.-Hearing loss in children influences the development of communication and behavioral skills, but few studies in the United States have used pure-tone audiometry to derive hearing loss prevalence estimates for children.Objective.-To describe the prevalence of hearing loss among US children by sociodemographic characteristics, reported hearing loss, and audiometric screening factors.Design.-National population-based cross-sectional survey with an in-person interview and audiometric testing at 0.5 to 8 kHz.Setting/Participants.-A total of 6166 children aged 6 to 19 years completed audiometry in the mobile examination center of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 1988 and 1994.Main Outcome Measure.-Hearing loss, defined as audiometric threshold values of at least 16-dB hearing level based on a low or high pure-tone average.Results.-A total of 14.9% of children had low-frequency or high-frequency hearing loss of at least 16-dB hearing level, 7.1% had low-frequency hearing loss of at least 16-dB hearing level, and 12.7% had high-frequency hearing loss of at least 16-dB hearing level. Most hearing loss was unilateral and slight in severity (16to 25-dB hearing level). Of those with measured hearing loss, 10.8% were reported to have current hearing loss during the interview.Conclusions.-This analysis indicates that 14.9% of US children have lowfrequency or high-frequency hearing loss of at least 16-dB hearing level in 1 or both ears. Among children in elementary, middle, and high school, audiometric screening should include low-frequency and high-frequency testing to detect hearing loss.

Prevalence of hearing loss in primary school children in Zimbabwe

“…This study was performed in July, which is winter in Zimbabwe and a season when hearing impairment due to infections and/or serous otitis media might be higher than at other times of the year. Our findings, are consistent with, if not somewhat lower than, rates found in a national, populationbased cross-sectional survey of the prevalence of hearing impairment among children aged 6-19 years in the United States [5]. In that study, 3.0% of the children tested for hearing impairment at frequencies between 0.5 and 8 kHz were found to have hearing thresholds greater than 25 dB in at least one ear.…”

“…In a national, population-based cross-sectional survey of the prevalence of hearing impairment among children aged 6-19 years in the United States, 3.0% were found to have hearing thresholds of greater than 25 dB in at least one ear when thresholds were measured at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 kHz [5]. When milder degrees of hearing impairment are included, the prevalence is substantially higher.…”

Hearing Screening and Diagnostic Evaluation of Children With Unilateral and Mild Bilateral Hearing Loss

“…22 Prevalence estimates of hearing loss in school-aged children (approximately 6-19 years of age) range from 10/1000 to 15/1000 for MBHL and 30/1000 to 56/1000 for UHL. 22,38 This variance in prevalence estimates is likely the result of factors similar to those found with screening newborns, as well as the inclusion of children with progressive or late-onset hearing loss. Causes of progressive or late-onset hearing loss include genetic and acquired environmental factors, such as teratogenic agents, infections, illnesses, trauma, and noise-induced hearing loss.…”

The Effectiveness of Parental Questionnaires in the Assessment of Speech-Language and Auditory Function in Children

“…Acute otitis media, which often recurs, is most prevalent among children living in developed and developing countries, and has been reported to occur among 17–20% of children within the first 2 years of life. Of note, 90% of children have had at least one documented episode of middle ear effusion by 2 years of age, and one-third have experienced six or more episodes by 7 years of age [26, 28, 29]. Monasta et al [30] performed a systematic review of WHO regional areas to provide global estimates of the incidence of otitis media and related sequelae.…”