Etiological and Epidemiological Factors in Hearing-Impaired Students in Van, East of Turkey: a Case Series

Abstract

The aim of the present case series was to investigate the causes of hearing loss in the children studying at a primary School for the deaf in Van Province, Turkey. The present series included 95 children with sensorineural hearing loss. Otoscopic and ophthalmological examinations, pure-tone audiometry, and tympanometry were performed for each patient. Measles IgG, rubella IgG, cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG, toxoplasma IgG, herpes simplex virus (HSV) Type I (HSV-I) IgG, HSV Type II (HSV-II) IgG, and Mycoplasma pneumonia IgG were evaluated in serum samples. Temporal bone anomalies were analyzed on temporal bone computed tomography (CT). A total of 7 radiologically distinct inner ear malformations were detected in 19 children. Twelve children were detected with various fundus pathologies. The most common cause of hearing loss was family-related factors (52%). In conclusion, the etiological and epidemiological factors were consistent with those reported in the literature.