AGE AT DIAGNOSIS FOR PERSISTING HEARING-LOSS IN CHILDREN STILL TOO LATE

Since 1994, the German Registry for Hearing Loss in Children has regis tered data of 1500 children and by now can present results concerning the age at diagnosis of permanent hearing loss in children in Germany. The mean age at diagnosis is still very high.There is a strong correla tion between age at diagnosis and degree of hearing loss, i.e., severe and profound healing loss, is diagnosed distinctly earlier than mild and moderate hearing loss.On average, mild hearing loss is diagnosed w ith 6.2 years, moderate h.l. with 4.4 years, severe hearing loss with 2.5 years and profound hearing loss with 1.9 years. This corresponds w ith the results of regional German studies. At least regionally, in ot her European countries the age at diagnosis is known to be distinctly fewer.ln 36% of the children registered in Germany the delay between f irst suspicion and diagnosis of permanent hearing loss is 1 year or mo re.