Hearing rehabilitation of children and adolescents with unilateral hearing loss.
Ângela Leusin Mattiazzi, Ana Clara de Lima Malheiros, Julia Dalcin Pinto and 2 others
PMID 36477174WHAT IT FOUND
Most children had sensorineural right-ear unilateral hearing loss.
Hearing aids were indicated for 15 participants, but daily use averaged 4.5 hours. Clinicians should not assume a more severe loss means longer device use.
Key findings
01Of 34 children and adolescents with unilateral hearing loss, 22 had sensorineural loss, 23 had right-ear loss, and 23 had pre-lingual onset.
02Hearing aids were indicated for 15 participants and CROS for 3, while 10 cases had audiological monitoring as the only conduct.
03Device-use data were available for 14 records, with an average of 4.5 hours per day, and use did not correlate with degree of hearing loss.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study used old medical records from only two services, so it may not represent other clinics. Only 34 children and adolescents were included, and some records lacked data. Device-use information was available for only 14 records. The study did not test whether hearing aids, CROS, or speech therapy improved hearing, language, or device benefit. Degree of hearing loss was classified with two different systems depending on age, which can make comparisons less clear. Most children with ear malformations did not have imaging tests, so other ear malformations could have been missed. The records did not explain the speech therapy method or link it to auditory abilities. The study did not report why professionals chose monitoring, hearing aids, or CROS beyond an association with degree.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that hearing aids or speech therapy improve hearing or language. The study only described records, device use, and therapy goals. It did not compare treated and untreated children or measure outcomes.