Publication:

Study of brain stem evoked audiometry in children under 10 years of age: a case series study

Background Brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) is a diagnostic tool which can be used to assess the early hearing loss and planning rehabilitative procedures. It is noninvasive and can be performed in uncooperative children.

Methods To evaluate the hearing threshold and find the incidence of hearing loss in infants and children under 10 years of age.

Results Totally, 55 patients under 10 years of age were included in the study. 15 children had normal hearing (27.27%) and 40 (72.72 %) were found to have sensorineural hearing loss. Amongst 40, 19 (47.5%) children were found in the age group of 1-5years. 14 (35%) were found to have profound hearing loss, 15 (37.5%) had severe, 8(20%) had moderate, 3 (7.5%) had mild hearing loss.

Conclusions Newborn screening is mandatory to identify hearing loss in the prelinguistic period to reduce the burden of handicap in the community. 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.