Slight/mild sensorineural hearing loss in children

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to determine the prevalence and effects of slight/mild bilateral sensorineural hearing loss among children in elementary school. METHODS.A cross-sectional, cluster-sample survey of 6581 children (response: 85%; grade 1: n = 3367; grade 5: n = 3214) in 89 schools in Melbourne, Australia, was performed. Slight/mild bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was defined as a lowfrequency pure-tone average across 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz and/or a high-frequency pure-tone average across 3, 4, and 6 kHz of 16 to 40 dB hearing level in the better ear, with air/bone-conduction gaps of <10 dB. Parents reported children's healthrelated quality of life and behavior. Each child with slight/mi..