Hearing aid use by children with multiple disabilities and motor disorders

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate fluctuations in hearing levels and the efficacy of hearing aids during the observation period in children with hearing loss, multiple disabilities, and motor disorders. Accurate hearing evaluations are difficult in children with multiple disabilities, and assessment of the efficacy of hearing aids is also difficult. Eighteen children with multiple disabilities and motor disorders were fitted with hearing aids, and auditory behaviors were investigated in the follow-up study. Eight patients had ABR thresholds corresponding to COR minimum response levels (MRLs), and the hearing level did not change in the advanced hard of hearing group. The behavioral hearing testing MRL level improved in six of the ten patients in the moderate hard of hearing group as they grew. Seventeen of the eighteen patients were able to use hearing aids, and nine patients had efficacy of hearing aids, four patients discontinued using of hearing aids. Two of the four patients who discontinued using hearing aids were under assessment for insertion of a cochlear implant. Hearing aids and cochlear implants were effective to development help of communications, although in many cases oral expression is difficult of the problem of the mind and body development and the vocal speech organ. It was necessary to adequately consider the physical condition and development in the repetition trouble child though of the early stage of the hearing aid was recommended in the hard hearing child of normal development.