[Sensorineural hearing loss in cerebral palsy patients]. / Hipoacusia neurosensorial en pacientes con parálisis cerebral.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common chronic motor disorder in children and frequently associates sensorial pathology. The objective of our study was to establish the prevalence and characteristics of sensorineural hearing loss in children with CP. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients born between the years 1975 and 2004, diagnosed of CP in the "Marqués de Valdecilla" University Hospital. Clinical data were collected including the presence of sensorineural hearing loss, age at diagnosis, treatment and associated pathology. RESULTS: Sixty four patients had confirmed CP. Audiological testing had been performed in thirty patients (47%) of them 18 (60%) had sensorineural hearing loss (12 bilateral and 6 unilateral). In thirteen cases hearing loss was associated with mental retardation. The age at diagnosis ranged from 3 months to 7 years (mean 23.2 months). Eight patients were treated with hearing aids and one with a cochlear implant. CONCLUSIONS: Sensorineural hearing loss is frequent in CP patients. Management of this problem is difficult in this setting because of the motor disorder and the associated pathology. Early audiological assessment is very important to improve the language outcome in these children.

Hipoacusia neurosensorial en pacientes con parálisis cerebral / Sensorineural hearing loss in cerebral palsy patients

Introducción: La parálisis cerebral (PC) es el trastorno motor crónico más frecuente en la infancia. Es habitual la presencia de trastornos sensoriales asociados a la misma. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue conocer la frecuencia y características de aparición de hipoacusia neurosensorial en pacientes con PC. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de los pacientes diagnosticados de PC en el Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla nacidos entre los años 1975 y 2004. Se evaluó la presencia/ausencia de hipoacusia neurosensorial, edad en el momento del diagnóstico, tratamiento realizado y la existencia de patología severa asociada. Resultados: Sesenta y cuatro pacientes (37 varones y 27 mujeres) fueron diagnosticados de parálisis cerebral durante dicho periodo. Treinta (47%) tenían realizado un estudio auditivo, de los cuales 18 (60%) presentaban hipoacusia neurosensorial (12 bilateral y 6 unilateral), trece de ellos con retraso mental asociado. La edad de diagnóstico osciló entre los 3 meses y los 7 años (media 23,2 meses). Ocho pacientes fueron tratados con audioprótesis y a uno le fue realizado un implante coclear. Conclusiones: La PC se asocia con frecuencia a hipoacusia neurosensorial. Su diagnóstico y tratamiento es complejo en este grupo de pacientes debido al trastorno motor que presentan y a la frecuente asociación con patología severa

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common chronic motor disorder in children and frequently associates sensorial pathology. The objective of our study was to establish the prevalence and characteristics of sensorineural hearing loss in children with CP. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients born between the years 1975 and 2004, diagnosed of CP in the "Marques de Valdecilla" University Hospital. Clinical data were collected including the presence of sensorineural hearing loss, age at diagnosis, treatment and associated pathology. RESULTS: Sixty four patients had confirmed CP. Audiological testing had been performed in thirty patients (47%) of them 18 (60%) had sensorineural hearing loss (12 bilateral and 6 unilateral). In thirteen cases hearing loss was associated with mental retardation. The age at diagnosis ranged from 3 months to 7 years (mean 23.2 months). Eight patients were treated with hearing aids and one with a cochlear implant. CONCLUSIONS: Sensorineural hearing loss is frequent in CP patients. Management of this problem is difficult in this setting because of the motor disorder and the associated pathology. Early audiological assessment is very important to improve the language outcome in these children