Hearing loss in children with neurodevelopmental or genetic disorders visiting a phoniatric clinic at a tertiary hospital in Cairo

Abstract Background Children with special needs often manifest multiple developmental, linguistic, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms. Hearing difficulties could be sometimes misdiagnosed, aggravating the behavioral manifestations and possibly affecting their rehabilitation plans. Identifying hearing impairments and its characteristics in special needs children is crucial in providing the optimal health care plan. Aim of the work Assessment of different hearing difficulties among children with special needs and other comorbid developmental disorders. Results Sixty-nine percent ( N = 69) of the children tested had a degree of hearing loss compared to 31% with normal peripheral hearing sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was the most common type of hearing loss, with a percentage of 30%, followed by conductive hearing loss (CNHL) 26%, then mixed hearing loss (HL)with 13%. The degree of hearing loss varied among the affected group where moderate severity was the highest type 26%, followed by severe degree of hearing loss 18%, moderately severe 17%, and profound hearing loss as lowest rate with 1%. Fifty-one percent of hearing loss was bilateral and 18% was unilateral. Hearing impairment was found to be 85% among cerebral palsy (CP), SNHL most observed. 74% among Down syndrome with CNHL most prevalent. 33.3% in autism group, having SNHL as the most prevalent type. One hundred hearing loss in mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), mixed type most prevalent. Conclusion Different special needs children could have misdiagnosed hearing impairment; the type of hearing loss differs from one special needs group to another. Proper hearing assessment is recommended among special needs population to provide optimum rehabilitation outcomes.