[Progressive hearing loss in children with hearing aids]

Abstract

Background: The possibility of hearing aid induced deterioration was first described in 1939 (Berry 1939, Holmgren 1939). Since then numerous studies discussed this problem controversely. However, it is undisputed that in cases of profound sensorineural hearing loss in childhood powerful hearing aids are necessary for maturation and auditory and speech development. An increase of progressive sensorineural hearing loss in the last three years in children with profound sensorineural hearing loss fitted with hearing aids (2 children in 1993, 6 children in 1996) drew our attention to this problem.

Method: Over a period of four years, we collected the data of 16 children with progressive hearing loss.

Results: The comparison of the duration of the hearing aid use since fitting and the maximum output level fail to explain this increase. Moreover our strategy in hearing aid fitting remained unchanged during this period especially with regard to SSPL max. We also performed an analysis of the childhood disorders associated with the sensorineural hearing losses. This analysis provided no further information for the increase of hearing loss.

Conclusion: There is no evidence that powerful hearing aids damage hearing and induce progressive sensorineural hearing loss in childhood. Therefore we believe that there is no need to change our hearing aid fitting strategy particularly with regard to the maximum output level up to 135 dB SPL measured in situ. The increase in the number of progressive cases in the last two years indicates the necessity of further investigations in this field.