HEARING IMPAIRMENT AMONG 10-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN - METROPOLITAN ATLANTA,1985 THROUGH 1987

The prevalence of hearing im pairment among 10-year-old children in me tropolitan Atlanta between 1985 and 1987 was evaluated. Hearing-impair ed children were identified by reviewing records at public schools and health and social service agencies. The prevalence was 1.1 per 1000 a nd was slightly higher among Blacks and boys than among Whites and gir ls. The most common known causes of hearing impairment were meningitis (0.3 per 1000), genetic and hereditary conditions (0.2 per 1000), and congenital rubella syndrome(0.1 per 1000). For 55% of the children, t he etiology of the hearing loss could not be determined. Most (74%) of the children were diagnosed after the age of 2, suggesting that metho ds of early identification need to be improved.