Y. Elsayed et S. Zakzouk, PREVALENCE AND ETIOLOGY OF CHILDHOOD SENSORINEURAL HEARING-LOSS IN RIYADH, Annals of saudi medicine, 16(3), 1996, pp. 262-265
Epidemiological data on hearing impairment are indispensable in order
to provide effective audiological services. A random sample survey was
performed on 6421 Saudi children to evaluate the prevalence, degree a
nd etiology of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The overall prevalen
ce of SNHL was 2.6% (168/6421). The prevalence of severe to profound b
ilateral SNHL was 0.4%. The causative factors were: heredofamilial (66
.1%), perinatal adverse factors (10.1%), meningitis (8.9%), rubella (2
.4%), mumps (2.4%), and nonhereditary syndromes (1.2%). The etiology w
as deemed to be unknown in 8.9% of the cases. The study showed that SN
HL is more prevalent in Saudi Arabia than in most of the developed and
developing countries. Great efforts and resources are needed for prev
ention and treatment of this major health problem.