Investigating Hearing Function in Pediatric Patients with Renal Dysfunction: In Pursuit of Preventive Audiology Outcomes

This study aimed to describe hearing function in a group of children with chronic renal dysfunction receiving treatment in an academic hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. One hundred children between the ages 5 and 18  years (mean age 11.68) were included in the study. A cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative research design was employed. All participants underwent a case history interview and an audiological examination which included otoscopy, immittance testing, pure tone audiometry including extended hig h frequency testing up to 16 kHz as well as diagnostic distortion product otoacoustic emission testing. A medical record review was also done. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the collected data. Results revealed that there was a high prevalence of hearing loss in th is group. The most common hearing loss was a low and high to ultrahigh frequency mild sensorineural hearing loss. No relationship between the severity of hearing loss and the severity of renal dysfunction, or the duration of renal dysfunction and the duration of treatment was found. However, a relat ionship between the severity of hearing loss and certain treatments was found. These were v hemodialysis and the use of ototoxic medication such as loop diuretics, tuberculosis medication, and antimalarial medication. Current findings highlight the importance of extended high frequency audiometry as well as diagnostic distortion product otoacoustic emission testing for ear...
Source: Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery - Category: ENT & OMF Source Type: research