Abstract

AIDS: Representatives of the American Speech-Language Association (ASHA) met jointly with the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC) to discuss hearing loss and communication disorders in HIV. The National Institutes of Health estimates that as many as 75 percent of adults with AIDS experience some kind of auditory dysfunction as a result of opportunistic infections or treatments with combination therapies that are ototoxic. The article reviews a variety of topics, including the types and causes of hearing loss, pediatric AIDS and communication disorders, and the differences between adults and children. Several case studies are presented along with recommendations to track data and develop programs related to this issue. There appears to be little awareness among health care workers of the effects of hearing loss and related language disorders among this group of patients. Several tables and graphs review data on otitis media and associated HIV clinical information.