[Congenital hearing disability among children in Copenhagen]

Abstract

The survey describes the detection, identification and aetiology of congenital/early acquired (i.e. neonatal period) hearing disability in a well-defined cohort of children, living in the Copenhagen area (Copenhagen City and County). The effect of intervention programmes is also mentioned. The children's age at identification can be considered as an evaluation of the quality of hearing screening aimed towards the detection of children with congenital/early acquired hearing disability, while the results of the aetiological evaluation reflects the quality of the diagnostic evaluations performed within paediatric audiology. The prevalence rate of 1.5/1000 of congenital/early acquired hearing disability for children born during 1980-1990 is unchanged in comparison to the period 1970-1980. An improvement in the detection of children with congenital/early acquired hearing disability is found, the identification is, however, still delayed in both children at risk and not-at-risk of hearing disability. The parents are most frequently the first to raise suspicion of their child's hearing disability, but very seldom apply to the audiological department without a referral from the primary health care sector. A change in the aetiology of congenital/early acquired hearing disability has taken place within 1980-1990, which can be ascribed to the reduced frequency of foetal rubella infection, while the frequency of inherited hearing disability has increased. The outcome of intervention programmes, evaluated by means of type of school, education, and employment situation is briefly described in relation to the social consequences of a hearing disability.