Prevalence and etiology of childhood sensorineural hearing loss in Riyadh

Epidemiological data on hearing impairment are indispensable in order to provide effective audiological services. A random sample survey was performed on 6421 Saudi children to evaluate the prevalence, degree and etiology of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The overall prevalence of SNHL was 2.6% (168/6421). The prevalence of severe to profound bilateral SNHL was 0.4%. The causative factors were: heredofamilial (66.1%), perinatal adverse factors (10.1%), meningitis (8.9%), rubella (2.4%), mumps (2.4%), and nonhereditary syndromes (1.2%). The etiology was deemed to be unknown in 8.9% of the cases. The study showed that SNHL is more prevalent in Saudi Arabia than in most of the developed and developing countries. Great efforts and resources are needed for prevention and treatment of this major health problem.