Management challenges of congenital & early onset childhood hearing loss in a sub-Saharan African country.

BACKGROUND: Hearing impairment is a hidden human disability with potentially catastrophic and age long consequences. This study highlighted the challenges associated with the management of congenital and early onset childhood hearing loss in a sub-Saharan African country.

METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study of children seen between January 2008 and December 2013 RESULT: A total of 223 children consisting of 124 (55.6%) males with (M:F) of 1.3:1. Age ranged 1-15 years (mean±SD; 6.39±4.37 years) and age group 1-5 years constituted the largest proportion (56.5%). Congenital causes, febrile illness and hypoxia were the leading causes of HI. Over 93% had moderately severe to profound hearing loss and 64.6% had delayed speech development. Majority (99.3%) with congenital/perinatal onset of HL had significantly delayed speech development and 99.3% of HL due to ototoxicity and infective causes had peri/post lingual speech impairment. Larger percentage of patients presented late; 16.6% of patients with congenital/perinatal onset of HL presented within the first year, >41% presented after the fifth year. Less than 5% had hearing aid fitted and patients with profound hearing impairment were referred for cochlear implant

CONCLUSION: The burden of congenital and early onset hearing impairment is high and management outcomes are unsatisfactory in our locality, Challenges associated with managing such children were discussed, and suggestions/strategies for better management and outcome were made.