Prognostic factors in non-organic hearing loss in children.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Exploring factors that predict a favourable clinical outcome in non-organic hearing loss (NOHL) in children. NOHL is defined as a subjective hearing loss without correlation in objective measures. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of all childrens' data with the diagnosis NOHL seen between 2005 and 2017 at a tertiary referral centre. STUDY SAMPLE Sixty-seven children (44 female, 23 male; mean age 11.26 years) were included. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, logistic regression, correlations, and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: A quarter of the children (17/67) had been provided previously with hearing aids without objective sensorineural hearing loss. Having been provided with hearing aids before the first visit to our clinic lowered the chance of normal hearing at the final visit by 76%. The prescription of hearing aids was significantly more likely in girls. Children provided with hearing aids were significantly older than those without and the time span between the first occurrence of the NOHL and first presentation at our department was longer than in children not provided with hearing aids. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of NOHL, hearing aid prescription is not indicated and significantly lowers a child's chance of full recovery and, thus, should not be prescribed unless NOHL is ruled out.