Hearing survey of the age diagnosis of children with sensorineural hearing loss in Jordan

Abstract EN

Objectives : Early identification and intervention of children with impaired hearing are accepted as important factors for preventive measures in children's health care.

Ideally, identification and management of sensorineural hearing loss should not be delayed beyond the age of six months.

Methods : This study was conducted on 800 children with impaired hearing using hearing threshold measurements to identify whether these objectives have been achieved in Jordan.

Results : The mean age of diagnosis of hearing loss is 3.8 years.

The gap between the age of parental suspicion and the age of diagnosis of hearing loss is about 2 years.

There is a strong negative correlation between the degree of hearing loss and the age of diagnosis.

On average, mild hearing loss is diagnosed at about 7years, moderate hearing loss is diagnosed at 4 years; severe hearing loss at 2.6 years, and profound hearing loss at 1.6years.

Conclusion : There is an unacceptable delay in the diagnosis of hearing loss in Jordan.

Evidently, this delay is due to poor awareness and lack of appreciation by the health personnel and public to the importance of early identification, early intervention, and methods of testing hearing thresholds of neonates and infants.

A national hearing-screening program for neonates and infants in Jordan is needed.