RISK FACTORS OF HEARING LOSS IN CHILDREN UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE - A CLINICAL STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Background: Hearing impairment in children constitutes a particularly serious obstacle to their optimal development. Early detection of hearing impairment is vital since early intervention including hearing aids and speech therapy can be initiated at the earliest. The aim of the study was to determine the risk factors associated with children with hearing loss and to assess degree of hearing loss using BERA. Materials and methods: 50 patients below 10 years of age attending ENT OPD with h/o hearing loss were taken for the study from January 2021 to January 2022 and were subjected to detailed history taking and clinical examination. Then the patients were subjected to BERA and the results were analysed. Result: The most common risk factor for hearing loss in this study is h/o consanguinity (40%) followed by birth asphyxia(9%) and then hyperbilirubinemia(8%). The other risk factors include h/o ototoxic drug intake(5%), low birth weight(4%), h/o intracranial infections(3%) and family h/o congenital hearing loss(1 %) Conclusion:Newbornscreening is mandatory to identify hearing loss in the prelinguistic period to reduce the burden of handicap in the society. BERA should be carried out as a routine procedure to detect hearing impairment in high risk children and rehabilitative measures should be started as early as possible.