Audiological profile of children with hearing loss in Upper Egypt

Objective: Identification of risk factors for hearing loss may help in primary prevention of hearing loss so this research aiming to study what is the most common causes and risk factors for hearing loss in upper Egypt and to study if this factors correlated to geographic distribution of the province. Patients and Methods: Two-hundred children with age range from 3yrs to 15yrs, were examined in two governorates , Minia in the north of upper Egypt and 50 children were examined in south of upper Egypt, Aswan, and the remaining 50 normal children from both governorates. All children were subjected to the following: Thorough history, full audiological evaluation. Results: Consanguinity was the most common risk factor about 60% of cases with sensorienrual hearing loss. Jaundice is the 2nd most common cause. When the consanguinity become more close, the degree of hearing loss increase. The incidence of consanguinity increase in south country more than north due to social habits and believes about consanguinity. The most surprising and interesting finding that, hearing loss was not common in old generation as the new generation which may reflect gene mutation. Conclusion: Consanguinity is the most common risk factor for hearing loss. Public awareness of this fact and this research may help in primary prevention of hearing loss which will be more cost effective than neonatal screening or even to minimize and restrict the cost of neonatal screening for children with positive consanguinity.