HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT SAUDI CHILDREN

The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hearing impairment associated with low birth weight. A random survey o f 6421 Saudi children aged between 2 months and 12 years was carried o ut. Children of low birth weight not having been exposed to other know n causes of hearing impairment were subjected to audiological assessme nt. In the sample, 655 (11.2%) were of low birth weight (< 2500 grams) . Of the low birth weight children tested for hearing, 17 (3.4%) were found to have otherwise unexplained sensorineural hearing loss. This i s compared with an incidence of 0.3% sensorineural deafness of unknown cause found in an age- and sex-matched normal birth weight control gr oup. The possible associated factors of sensorineural hearing impairme nt in LBW children are discussed.