Jawwad Ahmed, Ghulam Saqulain, Muhammad Iqbal Javed Khan, Mobeen Kausar.
Role of parental suspicion of hearing impairment on age of diagnosis & intervention: a Pakistani perspective.
Khyber Med Uni Med J Jan ;14(2):132-7.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of parental suspicion of hearing impairment (HI) on age of identification and intervention. METHODS: This Retrospective chart review, reviewed medical records of hearing-impaired children of both genders, aging 6 months to 12 years, who attended Cochlear Implant Centre, Department of Otolaryngology, Capital Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan from 1st July 2015 to 31st June 2016.  Data extracted from medical records included basic demographic information and facts like when hearing loss was suspected, who suspected hearing loss, which professional conducted the first assessment, when was final diagnosis established and when did child receive intervention. RESULTS: Out of 81 hearing impaired children, Majority (n=55; 67.9%) were males. Most (n=62; 76.5%) of the patients were suspected to have HI by parents and 56 (69.2%) were suspected to have HI in first year of life. In 67 (82.7%) cases, diagnosis was made within the first two years of life. Forty two (42.9%) patients received intervention in the first two years of life. There was significant association of age of suspicion of hearing impairment by parents with the age at diagnosis (p<0.001) and age at intervention (p<0.001) with those in whom HI was suspected earlier were able to be diagnosed and received intervention at an earlier age. No significant association was found for age of suspicion, age of diagnosis and age of intervention with persons who suspected HI and gender of the patients. CONCLUSION: Parental suspicion of hearing impairment has significant role to play in the early diagnosis as well as intervention.

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