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Cross-sectional epidemiology of hearing loss in Australian children aged 11-12 years old and 25-year secular trends.
- Source :
-
Archives of disease in childhood [Arch Dis Child] 2018 Jun; Vol. 103 (6), pp. 579-585. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Jan 31. - Publication Year :
- 2018
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Abstract
- Objective: In a national study of Australian children aged 11-12 years old, we examined the (1) prevalence and characteristics of hearing loss, (2) its demographic risk factors and (3) evidence for secular increases since 1990.<br />Methods: This is a cross-sectional CheckPoint wave within the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. 1485 children (49.8% retention; 49.7% boys) underwent air-conduction audiometry. Aim 1: hearing loss (≥16 decibels hearing level (dB HL)) was defined in four ways to enable prior/future comparisons: high Fletcher Index (mean of 1, 2 and 4 kHz; primary outcome relevant to speech perception), four-frequency (1, 2, 4 and 8 kHz), lower frequency (1 and 2 kHz) and higher frequency (4 and 8 kHz); aim 2: logistic regression of hearing loss by age, gender and disadvantage index; and aim 3: P for trend examining CheckPoint and reported prevalence in studies arranged by date since 1990.<br />Results: For high Fletcher Index, the prevalence of bilateral and unilateral hearing loss ≥16 dB HL was 9.3% and 13.3%, respectively. Slight losses (16-25 dB HL) were more prevalent than mild or greater (≥26 dB HL) losses (bilateral 8.5% vs 0.8%; unilateral 12.5% vs 0.9%), and lower frequency more prevalent than higher frequency losses (bilateral 11.0% vs 6.9%; unilateral 15.4% vs 11.5%). Demographic characteristics did not convincingly predict hearing loss. Prevalence of bilateral/unilateral lower and higher frequency losses ≥16 dB HL has risen since 1990 (all P for trend <0.001).<br />Conclusions and Relevance: Childhood hearing loss is prevalent and has risen since 1990. Future research should investigate the causes, course and impact of these changes.<br />Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.<br /> (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1468-2044
- Volume :
- 103
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Archives of disease in childhood
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 29386180
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2017-313505