2010 Volume 53 Issue 6 Pages 677-681
Developmental delay should be included in the differential diagnosis of speech delay as well as hearing loss. Accurate hearing evaluations are difficult in children with disabilities, and reliable assessments of the effectiveness of hearing aids are also difficult. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review the data of 61 children with hearing impairment referred to our clinic from Niigata Prefecture Hamagumi Rehabilitation Center for Children with Disabilities between 1999 and 2008. Four cases were diagnosed as having severe hearing loss (>70dBHL) and eight as having moderately severe hearing loss (40-70dBHL). Hearing impairment was more likely to be diagnosed in children with mental retardation than in children with pervasive developmental disorder. We recommended hearing aids to the 12 children with hearing impairment. Seven cases who were always could be fitted with hearing aids showed improvement in their auditory behaviors and development. On the other hand, some cases with hearing impairment could not be fitted with hearing aids, and some could not be followed up at our clinic. It is necessary for medical professionals to attempt to improve the parents' acceptance of disabilities, including hearing impairment.
