Importance of ophthalmological examination in children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the importance of ophthalmological examination in children with congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).

METHODS: This study was conducted at the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital in Al-Ramadi city, Iraq from 20 December 2007 to 30 October 2008. Fifty children with congenital SNHL were included in this prospective study. Ophthalmological examination was carried out for all patients.

RESULTS: Out of 50 patients with SNHL, 16 (32%) had ocular abnormalities. Ocular abnormalities were more common in postlingual age group (81.3%) than other age groups, which is statistically significant (p=0.007). Myopia was the most common abnormality that was present in 5 patients (31.3%). The results showed that hyperopia was found in 2 patients (12.5%), squint in 2 patients (12.5%), retinitis pigmentosa 2 patients (12.5%), and blepharitis in 1 (6.3%) patient. Four other patients had multiple abnormalities: one with myopia and astigmatism, one with hyperopia and conjunctivitis, one with bilateral blepharitis, and allergic conjunctivitis, and the last one with myopia and blepharitis. Two children on examination of the eyes was diagnosed with Usher syndrome.

CONCLUSION: Ocular abnormalities are a common problem in children with congenital SNHL necessitating ophthalmological examination to detect any abnormal visual acuity, and aid in the diagnosis of congenital deafness syndromes.