Outcomes of children with sensorineural hearing loss fitted with binaural hearing aids at a pediatric public hospital in South Africa

Abstract

OBJECTIVE : To describe hearing aid outcomes for children with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) at a pediatric public hospital in South Africa in terms of daily use and oral/aural performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS : Retrospective review of clinical data and caregiver reported outcomes of children aged 0–13 years with bilateral SNHL at one-month and three-months post-fitting. Oral/aural performance was measured by the Parents’ Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children (PEACH) questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate factors associated with hearing aid use. Thematic analysis was applied for qualitative caregiver-reported outcomes. STUDY SAMPLE : Sixty-eight children with confirmed bilateral SNHL who were fitted with binaural air-conduction hearing aids at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, between January 2017 and December 2019. RESULTS : Average daily hearing aid use increased significantly (p < 0.05) from one-month (5.0; 3.0 SD; range 0.3–14.0) to three-months post-fitting (5.9; 3.4 SD; range 1.1–16.8). Average PEACH scores were higher in Quiet (73.4%) than in Noise (69.6%). More than half (52.2%) of children required review based on their overall percentage PEACH scores. Higher average daily hearing aid use was significantly associated with higher overall PEACH scores (p < 0.05). Neuro-typically developing children had significantly higher hearing aid use than children with additional disabilities (p < 0.001). Qualitative caregiver feedback revealed themes pertaining to advantages and barriers to hearing aid use. CONCLUSION : Outcomes of children with SNHL fitted with binaural hearing aids at a pediatric public hospital in South Africa demonstrated increased average daily hearing aid use from one-month to three-months post-fitting. Aural/oral performance was typical for one in two children. Children with additional disabilities had significantly poorer hearing aid use and aural/oral performance requiring more support for this vulnerable group to realize sufficient benefit from hearing aid use.