Survey of deaf children using individual hearing aid

Abstract EN

Objective: Hearing impairment (HI) is a serious disabling condition; its impact on childhood is crucial.

It can result in long lasting communication, social and educational deficits.

The aim of the study is to identify the impact of middle ear pathology on the benefit of hearing aid and impact on hearing impaired verbal communication.

Design: This study was conducted during the period of March 2001 to June 2002 at Al-Amal institute for deaf boys.

Clinical examinations of the ear by otoscope were performed.

Tympanometry using Grason Stadler Incorporation (GSI 33) equipment and pure tone results were collected from their files.

The tympanograms were divided into type A, B, and C.

Subject: A cohort of 150 hearing impaired children of median age 9.9 years, (range 6.1 to 13.7) from Al-Amal institute for deaf (boys) in Riyadh city.

Result: The result showed that 55 ears were type B, 18 ears with impacted wax.

Seventy percent children were diagnosed at age of 2 years.

Conclusion: This study indicates that there is a need for qualified audiologists and speech therapists, since speech therapy is essential in rehabilitation process.

For many hearing impaired persons, hearing aid provides a re-entry into the hearing world.