Assessment of hearing in persons with learning disabilities: the Phoenix NHS Trust, January 1997 to September 1998

People with learning disabilities are at increased risk of impaired hearing . The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of hearing impairmen t and ear disease in people attending the specialist Otolaryngology/Hearing Therapy clinic at the Phoenix NHS Trust, Bristol. The present and future p rocess of such a service was explored. Data were obtained from the referral form and notes made by the consultant otolaryngologist. In 20 months, there were 226 consultations, 188 of which were new referrals . The majority of patients had verbal communication to some extent. Suspect ed infection/inflammation and unobtainable/abnormal tympanograms, each acco unted for 43 per cent of reasons for referral. Twenty per cent of patients were normal otologically. Eighteen per cent were provided with hearing aids and nine per cent required surgery. Ten patients underwent brainstem evoke d response testing, half of whom had aidable hearing. Our results are comparable to published data of similar units. It is recomm ended that combined otolaryngology/specialist hearing therapy services are continued and further developed.