Pediatria pre prax 5/2008

HEARING LOSS IN CHILDREN: PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES FOR EARLY DIAGNOSTIC, IDENTIFICATION OF ETIOLOGY

More than 80 % of hearing loss in children is congenital or acquired in perinatal period and for this reason for early detection of hearing loss the universal hearing screening in newborn (UNHS) is necessary. In Slovakia the UNHS is mandated from 1. 5. 2006. When comparing identification of bilateral profound hearing loss/deafness before and after UHNS in Slovakia, 22,8 % more infants with hearing loss were identified. In the present study there are guidelines for early identification of hearing loss in newborns and infants, also guidelines for detection of etiology and treatment of hearing loss. In literature is described, that 50 % of hearing losses are genetic and 25 % are unknown etiology. The etiology in our group of newborns and infants was in 44,2 % genetic, 23,3 % prematurity (birth weight < 1 500 g), 9,3 % suffered from congenital CMV infection, 2,3 % newborn meningitis and only in 20,9 % the etiology was unknown. Hearing loss in children can appear later and for early detection of hearing loss pediatrician has to follow hearing and development of speech and language.

Keywords: hearing loss, newborns, infants, UNHS, guidelines for diagnostics, etiology, treatment